We begin by aligning on your goals, timeline, and capital strategy to identify the note structures that best fit your objectives.
Become the Bank. Build Consistent Income. Strengthen Communities.
First-lien real estate notes delivering predictable monthly cash flow—while creating stability, ownership, and opportunity for families.
Primary
First-lien position100%
Real-asset backedDirect
Monthly cash flow10-12%
Targeted Returnsoperating since 2010
Why Traditional Real Estate Investing Falls Short for Income-Focused Investors
Many investors reach a point at which the usual options no longer work as promised.
When capital chases volatility, communities feel it too.
A Different Approach
A Steadier Alternative Investment Strategy for Predictable Income
Financial stability creates life stability. That belief guides everything we do at Refuge Funding.
We focus on investments that stay grounded in real assets, not speculation. When investors step into the role of the bank, capital remains tied to property and deployed with intention. The result is consistent income and long-term opportunity built on solid fundamentals.
Three core principles guide our alternative investment approach:
Predictable Monthly Income
Structured notes designed to generate reliable, monthly cash flow.
First-Lien, Asset-Backed Security
Every investment is secured by real property — no projections, no guesswork.
Operator-Led Execution With Intent
To protect investor capital and create durable outcomes, we source, structure, and manage every deal ourselves.
What You’re Actually Investing In
What Is a Real Estate Note?
Every real estate transaction includes three roles:
Most people only participate in the first two. Refuge Funding puts investors in the lender role, the same position banks occupy.
You are investing in real estate notes, not properties. You earn income as borrowers make monthly payments, secured by the underlying asset.
Behind every note is a family gaining stability and an investor earning a predictable income.
How Real Estate Note Investing Works
Real estate note investing allows individuals to earn income by holding the loan secured by real property rather than owning or managing the property itself. Instead of dealing with tenants, maintenance, or market timing, investors receive payments as borrowers repay their loan.
Notes can be structured in several ways, including residential mortgage, commercial, and land notes. Each structure provides a predictable income while remaining secured by tangible assets.
At Refuge Funding, we focus on note investments that are simple, transparent, and built for long-term stability. Our process is intentionally structured to protect investor capital while creating clear, consistent outcomes.
Our Investment Process
Step 1: Investor Conversation
Step 2: Opportunity Matching
Accredited and non-accredited investors are matched with note opportunities, such as land or residential mortgage notes, secured by real property and designed to produce steady, long-term income.
Step 3: Due Diligence and Protection
Every note is structured with multiple layers of protection, including:
- First-lien position on the property
- Borrower vetting through a licensed Residential Mortgage Loan Originator (RMLO)
- Title policy where applicable
- Independent, third-party loan servicing
- Lender-friendly, state-specific compliance
Step 4: Closing
Each transaction is closed cleanly and compliantly, with no pooling and no guesswork. Investors are placed directly into the note with clear documentation and defined terms.
Step 5: Monthly Income Begins
Once the note is in place, cash flow begins the following month. A loan servicer manages payments, allowing investors to receive consistent, passive income without ongoing involvement.
Why Investors Choose Managed Real Estate Note Investing
Managed note investing removes the operational burden without taking control away from the investor. The note remains yours. The income is yours. We handle the complexity behind the scenes. You’ll be free to focus on consistent income as we manage sourcing, compliance, and servicing
The difference between investing on your own and investing with Refuge Funding comes down to who is responsible for the structure, compliance, and long-term execution of the note.
Investing With Refuge Funding
Handling It Alone
Real Estate Note Returns, Risk, and Investor Transparency
Investors like you deserve clarity — clear expectations, responsible structuring, and full transparency — instead of hype and unrealistic promises. That’s why we focus on consistency, protection, and long-term alignment.
Returns Overview
Targeted 10%–12% returns
Payments made monthly
Notes structured for long-term income, with defined liquidity and exit options
Risk Mitigation
Is This a Fit for You? Let's Talk
If predictable income, first-lien protection, and a thoughtful, long-term approach to risk matter to you, let’s start with a conversation.
Discuss Investor FitA Mission-Driven Real Estate Investment Company
Refuge Funding creates stability — financially and personally — by staying grounded in outcomes that truly matter.
Homes provide security. Ownership builds long-term opportunity. And capital becomes a place of refuge when it’s deployed with intention, discipline, and care for the people involved.
A few simple beliefs guide our decisions
These principles are the foundation of investments that perform steadily, protect capital, and support outcomes lasting beyond a single transaction.
Rick and Crystal Rumer — Experienced, Hands-On Stewards
Rick and Crystal Rumer lead Refuge Funding as hands-on operators, personally structuring, protecting, and deploying capital.
Rick is deeply experienced in real estate investing and structured lending, with a disciplined focus on risk management and first-lien protection.
Crystal brings a mission-driven perspective shaped by years of working with families navigating housing instability, ensuring long-term ownership outcomes remain central to every transaction.
Together, they guide Refuge Funding with conservative execution, transparency, and long-term stewardship for investors and families alike.
Impact Investing Through Owner-Financed Real Estate Notes
At Refuge Funding, impact isn’t a separate initiative. It’s a natural outcome of how we structure our investments.
Through owner-financed real estate notes, our goal is to help place 100 families into homes by the end of 2026 while continuing to deliver consistent, predictable income to investors.
Many families can afford a monthly payment but are shut out of traditional lending. At the same time, investors are often pushed toward increasingly speculative options in search of yield.
First-lien notes structured with discipline and intention create balance on both sides:
Stability for investors through asset-backed, monthly income
Stability for families through fixed payments and a clear path to ownership
When done well and at scale, this approach strengthens communities through ownership — naturally grounded in outcomes that matter.
Who Real Estate Note Investing Is (and Is Not) For
Every investor has a different philosophy, timeline, and comfort level with risk. Real estate note investing may not be right for you, but it can add diversification and steady income to your overall strategy.
Ideal Investors
Not a Fit If You
Testimonials
Real Impact. Real Stories. Trusted by Global Leaders.
Quynh Vu, PharmD
Co-Founder, Secure Land Co
Stephen Krause
Repeat Investor
Let’s Start With a Conversation
Every investor’s goals are different, so let's have a straightforward discussion to see if our note strategy matches your timeline and capital needs. There is no obligation — even if it’s not the right fit, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how notes function within a diversified portfolio.
Schedule an Investor Conversation