Our Mission and Story
Loan Source, LLC was founded by Tom Berry and Donald Sutton in January 2014. Collectively, Donald and Tom have been doing real estate investing and hard money lending for over 20 years. "We are dedicated to our clients and pride ourselves on maintaining innovative - in demand loan products, quality customer service, and, above all, our fast approval process."
We have a welcoming, highly-trained staff, dedicated to helping you meet your real estate investment goals. We will guide you through the lending process and will answer any questions that you may have - whether you are buying and rehabbing your first property or are a seasoned real estate investor.
We believe in helping our clients build wealth through real estate. We are trusted in the industry because we help real estate investors finance their projects quickly and efficiently.
The El Campo Team
The Houston Team
Leadership
Donald was recruited by a defense contractor right out of Stephen F. Austin University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. For the next 5 years, he worked in satellite and missile science for multiple undisclosed US government agencies. His most notable work includes the NORAD defense system’s “war games” missile technology and the satellite system that was used to locate and monitor troop movements for coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm.
After his time with military defense agencies, Donald moved into the private sector as a software engineer working with companies such as Oracle, E-Systems Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and EMC Greenplum. Over the next 26 years, he managed design teams creating system software for private sector companies and government agencies. It was during this time that he moved back to his hometown area and met his wife, Fredia, of now over 20 years. They have four children, the oldest of which works in the family business.
While working in the corporate world, Donald started investing in rental homes, mobile home parks, and apartments as an alternative to the stock market. After a while, he found that passive investing as a private lender was more suited to his busy work and travel schedule. He now boasts more than 20 years in private lending.
In 2014, Donald and Tom Berry partnered up to create Investor Loan Source (ILS), making private capital available to for fix and flip, buy and hold, and commercial property investments.
In 2018, Donald and Tom launched ILS Capital Funds as a way to expand their lending volume and allow other passive investors to participate in the lucrative private lending systems they had established.
Donald’s knack for the technical aspects of real estate investing and his highly analytical mind have driven the many business innovations that have supported the outstanding growth ILS Legacy Holdings has enjoyed over the years.
Donald enjoys serving as a project leader and mentor for the local 4-H and FFA chapters. His mission is to help others build their wealth and get the highest returns with minimal risk. Donald says success feels best when it is shared.
Growing up in Appalachia, Tom always knew he wanted to be a businessman. To him, it seemed like the only way to escape the generational poverty he saw all around him. Son of a coal miner, he did not attend college but instead chose to work his way up the corporate ladder in sales and management. Before long he realized he had developed a strong resume as a turnaround manager with a unique talent for turning struggling companies, stores, or departments into profitable enterprises.
After several of these positions, he had acquired the skills and knowledge to start his own financial services firm. Accumulating 18 state and federal licenses and admissions covering life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, mortgages, and securities sales, Tom and his wife built a business by helping families plan and implement efficient investment strategies that enabled them to reach their financial goals.
In 2006, Tom and his wife moved their family and business from their small rural community in Ohio to the much larger market of Houston, TX. While this seemed like a fantastic opportunity at the time, no one foresaw the financial crisis that crushed their business the following year. They lost everything they had worked for and saved.
Tom then applied his experience and skills to the world of real estate. Starting with nothing, he acquired over 400 rental properties within four years and has since bought and sold hundreds of houses and commercial properties.
In 2014, Tom and Donald Sutton partnered up to create Investor Loan Source (ILS), making private capital available to for fix and flip, buy and hold, and commercial property investments.
Tom’s passion for sharing his knowledge and teaching others how to build wealth through real estate has enabled ILS Legacy Holdings to become widely known for innovative real estate investing techniques and solutions that can create substantial wealth.  He constantly mentors and trains other real estate professionals across the country, speaking at various conventions and mastermind groups in addition to his daily responsibilities as co-leader of ILS Legacy Holdings.
In 2018, Tom and Donald launched ILS Capital Funds as a way to expand their lending volume and allow other passive investors to participate in the lucrative private lending systems they had established.
Tom and his wife of 20 years, Melissa, continue to reside in Texas close to their four adult children and seven grandchildren. Many of their immediate family members work in the family businesses. Tom is an avid hunter and loves to make memories with the family on his exotic game ranch in central Texas.