Nov 2, 2026

On this episode of The A Game Podcast: Real Estate Investing for Entrepreneurs, Nick Lamagna sits down with Mike Seidl, co-founder of REI Capital Guys and co-host of the Save to Zero podcast, who grew up without money, built and sold two companies, and became a private money lender with roughly $30 million deployed. In this episode, he shares how to read people, vet deals and contractors, and build wealth by focusing on growth instead of saving every penny.

Mike and Nick dig into how years of working in residential treatment and mental health taught Mike to read body language and ask better questions, why he tells borrowers to “have bad days, not bad deals,” and how to have hard conversations without being a jerk. You’ll also hear the contractor red flags every investor should know, including why contractors never need money upfront and how to pay subcontractors directly with lien releases.

You’ll also discover how a three-year relationship led to a $2 million loan funded in 6 hours, why the smartest move in real estate may be learning to be the money instead of finding the money, and what visiting 40+ countries taught Mike about people. Mike also explains the Save to Zero philosophy and why you can only save down to zero, but you can earn infinitely.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How working with abused kids and in a psychiatric hospital taught Mike to read people

  • Why he never asks leading questions, and how he uses uncomfortable silence to get honest answers

  • The loan broker story that shows why you have to keep digging

  • Why “have bad days, not bad deals” can save you from a deal you can’t get out of

  • What happens when a lender says no, and why 30–40% of rejected borrowers come back with a better deal

  • The NYU moment that flipped Mike’s mindset from saving money to growing it

  • Why egos kill businesses, and how asking for help gets you better answers

  • Why you should hire specialists, not the first person who comes along

  • Contractor red flags: why they never need money upfront, and how to pay subs directly with conditional lien releases

  • Why Mike skipped flipping houses and went all in on private money lending

  • The 6-hour, $2 million loan and why trust and reputation make fast deals possible

  • What traveling to 40+ countries taught him: people are people everywhere

  • The Save to Zero philosophy: focus on growth, not pennies

 

MIKE SEIDL

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mikereicapitalguy/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mike.seidl

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-seidl-55150a396/

Threads:
https://www.threads.com/@mikereicapitalguy

 

REI CAPITAL GUYS

Website:
https://reicapitalguys.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reicapitalguys

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/REICapitalGuys/

Threads:
https://www.threads.com/@mikereicapitalguy

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@REICapitalGuys

SAVE TO ZERO PODCAST

Website:
https://savetozero.com/

Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/save-to-zero/id1895024430?l=en-GB

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdhumNkSQ4VEfPZtLrZEpY-on09EDm5-4

 

CONNECT WITH NICK LAMAGNA

Want to buy, sell or partner on a real estate investment?

DM Nick the words REAL ESTATE on social media or email:

podcast@nicknicknick.com

All links:
https://www.nicknicknick.com/links

Subscribe to The A Game Podcast: Real Estate Investing for Entrepreneurs on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

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