The Better Boat: Lessons from the Ashes of Real Estate

A Lender’s Guide For The Rest Of Us

What do you do when your house burns down—literally—and your financial future goes up in smoke?
You build a better boat.

Brad and Emma DeGraw know a thing or two about starting over. After losing everything—from a rental house fire to hurricane disasters to a devastating trading loss—they did what most people wouldn’t: they rebuilt smarter.

This isn’t another real estate success book full of theory. It’s a boots-on-the-ground, emotionally honest, and surprisingly entertaining guide to how two ordinary people created an extraordinary lending business—one deal, one mistake, one breakthrough at a time.

Inside, you'll discover:

• How to build consistent income through private lending without Wall Street headaches

• Hard-won lessons from 120+ real estate loans, including defaults, disasters, and surprising recoveries

• Why Emma’s ruthless underwriting veto power became their secret weapon

• Real stories of borrowers, investors, and the system breakthroughs that changed everything

• A framework for building wealth based on alignment, not aggression

Whether you're rebuilding after a setback, looking to create tax-advantaged income, or navigating business as a couple, The Better Boat gives you practical insights with emotional depth. It’s for anyone who wants a resilient path to financial freedom—with transparency, humor, and heart.