Equiquest Hard Money founder Mike DeAngelis recently visited the Highlighting The Journey podcast to sit down with DanDan The Podcast Man. Mike talks about going from a self-described so-so student who loved motorcycles to a 27-year corporate sales leader and finally to the founder of Equiquest Hard Money, a Long Island–focused private lending company for real estate investors.
In the episode, Mike shares how grit, disciplined habits, and “learning by doing” shaped his path; why he invests in local knowledge over national scale; and a transparent look at how his loans work for fix-and-flip and BRRRR investors. It’s equal parts origin story, tactical lending walkthrough, and mindset tune-up.
What Was Covered
Grit beats pedigree: Mike wasn’t an academic standout. A factory job at 19 flipped a switch—he set goals, hit the Dean’s List, and earned a marketing degree.
Corporate to capital: 27 years at Grainger taught him sales leadership, options, and compounding—then he turned that discipline into a lending business.
How Equiquest loans work (plain English):
12-month, commercial hard-money loans for flips and BRRRR.
Underwrites purchase + rehab against ARV, targeting ~65% LTV.
Fast term sheet (aiming 24–48 hours), local drive-by, attorneys and title move quickly.
Borrow in an LLC with a personal guarantee; bring proper builder’s risk insurance.
Numbers that matter: Get a real scope of work, tight construction budget, and a deal calculator (purchase, rehab, holding costs). Mike will say “no” if the deal doesn’t pencil.
Why Long Island only: Dense, high-velocity, high-margin market. Local nuance wins. He’d rather do many $400K loans than one oversized bet—risk mitigation over bravado.
Skin in the game: Even when co-lending, Mike puts his own capital in every deal.
Mentorship mindset: He’s a lender and a co-pilot—happy to coach serious, coachable new investors on team building (CPA, attorney, contractor) and deal analysis.
About Equiquest Hard Money
A Long Island–exclusive private lender built for speed, local knowledge, and alignment. Short-term project loans for fix-and-flip and BRRRR, with coaching baked in.
Looking to fund a real estate deal on Long Island? Get a fast read on your numbers and a term sheet you can actually close on.
Want guidance on your plan/vision? Mike’s open to a conversation for serious, coachable investors.