3 Creative Real Estate Deal Structures to Boost Your Income in Any Market with Chris Prefontaine | Rethink Real Estate S4E58

In this eye-opening episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Chris Prefontaine, Chairman and Founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, to unpack the strategies behind creative deal structures that work in any market. Chris shares how his team and community across 80+ markets are using owner financing, lease purchase, and subject-to transactions to close deals—often without needing massive capital or perfect credit.Chris breaks down exactly how each structure works, the pitfalls to avoid, and why these methods are becoming essential knowledge for real estate agents in a shifting market. From building new income streams without bank loans, to converting listings that would otherwise expire, this episode reveals how agents can position themselves as problem-solvers and generate revenue beyond traditional commissions.You’ll also hear how the Smart Real Estate Coach community partners directly in deals—coaching members through transactions from start to finish—and why the average time to first deal is just 157 days. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn more of the opportunities that cross your desk into actual income (even the ones that don’t fit the MLS mold), this conversation will flip the switch.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] – Introduction to Chris Prefontaine & Smart Real Estate Coach[00:02:08] – The mixed sentiment across 80+ U.S. real estate markets[00:04:20] – Defining “creative real estate” and why Chris shifted to it after 2008[00:06:22] – The three core structures: owner financing, lease purchase, subject-to[00:07:16] – Why principal-only payments can be a recession hedge[00:08:29] – How lease purchase deals lock in control without taking title[00:09:11] – Subject-to explained (and the truth about the due-on-sale clause)[00:12:29] – How Smart Real Estate Coach trains and partners on deals[00:15:21] – Opportunities in a longer-days-on-market environment[00:16:22] – How to start creative deal-making with zero experience[00:18:15] – Structuring community membership for hands-on deal guidance[00:20:34] – Monetizing creative real estate: timelines and income potential[00:22:21] – Case study: government employee to six figures in 24 months[00:23:32] – Chris’s 2025 focus: reducing time to first deal for members🔗 Related Resources Below:📚 Get Chris’s free book: https://wickedsmartbooks.com/rethink📺 Watch Smart Real Estate Coach deal structures on YouTube:  @wickedsmartinc 🔗 Related Resources Below:🌐 For more information on Harcourts Auctions our non-distressed auction platform feel free to visit https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Chris Prefontaine & Smart Real Estate Coach:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisprefontaine/https://smartrealestatecoach.com/https://www.instagram.com/chrisprefontaine_/https://www.facebook.com/CHRISPRE/https://www.youtube.com/user/smartrealestatecoach🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and Harcourts Auctions: ⁣https://www.facebook.com/Benbradyharcourts⁣ ⁣https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517⁣ ⁣https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctions⁣ ⁣https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions🎯 Subscribe for more industry insights, and don’t forget to like, follow, or comment with your thoughts on creative deal-making in real estate!