These are the questions I hear most from newer investors who’ve found an opportunity in South Carolina and are thinking about partnering with me on it.
The short version: every JV I do has a written agreement, defined roles, an attorney involved from the start, and compliance with South Carolina law ahead of everything else. Splits depend on contribution and are never one-size-fits-all.
For the full picture, start with the JV overview, then read how a real estate JV works for roles, title and decision rights. The broader concept is covered on the joint venture guide.
When you have a deal to discuss, reach me through the partnership contact form.
Straight answers
How are JV profits split?
By contribution, and it’s negotiated deal by deal. Who brought the opportunity, who brought capital, who’s doing the work and who carries the risk all factor in. I never quote a standard split because there isn’t one, and the final terms always go in a written agreement.
Do I need money to do a JV with you?
Not necessarily. Capital is one contribution. Others include the owner relationship, local knowledge and hands-on project work. What you bring shapes what you get, and we put both in writing.
Is a JV agreement required?
For me, yes. Every partnership gets a written agreement drafted with a South Carolina attorney, signed before the deal moves forward.
Who holds title on a joint venture property?
It depends on the deal: one partner, a new entity, or both names on the deed. Each has legal, tax and lending consequences, so we decide it with an attorney and a CPA. The how a JV works page covers the options.
What areas do you partner in?
South Carolina, mainly the Midlands within about an hour of Lexington, plus Sumter, the Upstate, Lancaster and Rock Hill.
What property types work for a JV with you?
The same types I buy: single-family houses that need work, small multifamily from duplex to quad, land, and land with a mobile home. See the buy box.
Can a JV be used to get around South Carolina's wholesaling law?
No, and I won’t use one that way. The 2024 law treats marketing property you don’t own, with an expectation of compensation, as licensed activity. Whether a specific structure fits the law is a question for a South Carolina real estate attorney. Background is at sc-wholesaling.benlovro.com.
Do you charge for partnering or mentorship?
No. A JV is a business partnership on a specific deal, not a paid coaching program. If you want to learn before you have a deal, the free community at REI Skool is the place.
How do we make decisions during the project?
The agreement spells out which decisions one partner can make alone, which need both, and how disagreements get resolved. During the project we hold a weekly check-in with a shared scoreboard and budget.
What happens if the project goes over budget?
The agreement answers that in advance: who funds the gap and how it affects each partner’s share. Writing it down before closing is how you keep the partnership intact when it happens.
Are there securities concerns with a JV?
There can be. If a partnership starts to look like one person raising money from several passive investors, securities law may apply. Ask your attorney before structuring anything like that.