We haven’t seen much private lending since the early ’80s. Private lending is when a private party agrees to loan you the money to buy something (in this case real estate). There are people who make a living lending money called Hard Money or Private Money, and sometimes this money is very expensive as well as it comes with strict terms. Other sources for private lending would be the seller (called seller financing) of the property if they own the property free and clear of debt. Other sources may be your friends, parents or aunts and uncles.