

The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast|Real Estate Investing
Chris Prefontaine
Welcome to the Smart Real Estate Coach podcast. Our episodes are designed to help YOU reach the next level of real estate investing no matter where you are right now.
To make this a reality, we lean into our 32+ years of experience, our huge network of experts, and our thriving community of Associates. With the right tools, the right education, and the right mindset YOU can take control of your financial future.
At Smart Real Estate Coach, we empower individuals and families to create the life of their dreams through real estate.
If you are an aspiring or seasoned real estate investor looking for a proven investment system, robust education, and a thriving support community, you have come to the right place.
We share the best information from our own deals, our Associate's deals, and our guest experts, helping you potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly mistakes.
And we know what the work actually takes. Between our Associates and our own deals, we're still completing deals every month and control, at any given time between $60-100 million dollars worth of real estate with little to no money down. If you're serious about making money in the world of real estate investment, then keep listening to learn more!
To make this a reality, we lean into our 32+ years of experience, our huge network of experts, and our thriving community of Associates. With the right tools, the right education, and the right mindset YOU can take control of your financial future.
At Smart Real Estate Coach, we empower individuals and families to create the life of their dreams through real estate.
If you are an aspiring or seasoned real estate investor looking for a proven investment system, robust education, and a thriving support community, you have come to the right place.
We share the best information from our own deals, our Associate's deals, and our guest experts, helping you potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly mistakes.
And we know what the work actually takes. Between our Associates and our own deals, we're still completing deals every month and control, at any given time between $60-100 million dollars worth of real estate with little to no money down. If you're serious about making money in the world of real estate investment, then keep listening to learn more!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 12, 2020 • 21min
Episode 139: Passive Cash Flow Through Turnkey Real Estate, with Jeff Schechter
Jeff Schechter, AKA "Shecky," has had the entrepreneurial bug his entire life. He started his first business right out of college and over the years been involved in numerous businesses ventures. His love for real estate investing began in the 1980s when he rehabbed five of his own residences, before the term "house-hacking" even existed. Since those early days of torn up kitchens and bathrooms, he's bought and sold many properties and is an active investor to this day. In addition to investing, he operates a private consulting practice. He thrives on helping people realize their full potential…not just in business and investing, but in all aspects of life. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Shecky and his business partner Jack Gibson started and grew their turnkey real estate company, High Return Real Estate How a bad experience selling properties on a commission for another turnkey company inspired Shecky and Jack to go into business and do things the right way How Shecky's all-cash turnkey business works, and what conditions the business is working within their Indianapolis market How Shecky and Jeff implemented systems to automate processes within their business to streamline minimize the grunt work Why personal development and investing in himself have given Shecky the biggest returns and benefited him in all areas of his life How daily gratitude, meditation, spirituality and evening yoga help Shecky put himself into the right mindset to succeed How to get a free consultation call with Nicole, High Return Real Estate's Director of Investor Relations How famous historical figures who came from nothing and changed the world, like Albert Einstein and Napoleon Hill, inspire Shecky How Shecky's podcast, The High Return Real Estate Show, has served as a great opportunity to network and form new relationships, and where to find the show Why taking action is the key to success, and why Shecky believes the only true cure for procrastination is to "just do something" Resources: Free consultation call with Nicole, Director of Investor Relations: https://HighReturnRealEstate.com/SREC Website: https://HighReturnRealEstate.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCyOZtGiQaM8dRLj5HPl0zwQ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReallyShecky The High Return Real Estate Show podcast: https://highreturnrealestate.com/real-estate-investing-podcast/ Additional resources: Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoach.com/QLS

Feb 7, 2020 • 28min
Episode 138: Becoming a "Lienlord" Instead of a Landlord, with Bob Fraser
Bob Fraser is on a mission to help investors take advantage of one of the most effective and overlooked avenues of real estate investing: residential mortgage notes. As Founder and Principal of Aspen Funds, Bob has purchased more than 1,000 mortgage notes earning double-digit annual returns without the risk and volatility of traditional investing options. Bob has personal experience with the unpredictable nature of public markets. In the 90's, he launched a tech company, raised $44 million in venture capital, and grew it to over 300 employees. Then the tech bubble burst and he transitioned to finance and investing, becoming CFO for several organizations and running a hedge fund. In 2012, he met business partner Jim Maffuccio, and the two found an alternative way to invest in real estate without the volatility of traditional options. By purchasing discounted residential real estate notes in the American heartland they discovered a high yield, liquid, asset-secured investment that produced consistently superior returns without all the risk. Better yet? They could work with homeowners to help them stay in their homes. Everyone wins. With Aspen Funds, Bob uses his 20-plus years of experience in finance to oversee the company's mortgage note portfolios. A Magna Cum Laude graduate in computer science from U.C. Berkeley and former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award-winner, Bob often makes bold, contrarian predictions about the economy and technology, most of which have already come true. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Bob got involved in the housing market during the recovery from the 2008 market crash, and how he got involved in mortgage notes How the current housing market and economic conditions are very different from the conditions that caused the 2008 crash How President Obama's JOBS Act opened the door to a new level of accessibility for private investment opportunities How Bob's "lienlord" niche works, and how it allows investors to buy notes for pennies on the dollar and create powerful cash flow Why a second position mortgage isn't a bad investment and how the default rate of second mortgages during the 2008 crash was just 5% Why investors are often surprised to learn that they can foreclose from second position and how Bob handles a situation where the first mortgage becomes delinquent How Bob transitioned from working as a computer programmer into real estate after the dotcom crash and how working with the right mentors made all the difference Why Bob recommends you read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor Why if you create a note with a good interest rate, yield, and a solid pay history, groups like Bob's company Aspen Funds will be happy to buy it from you Resources: Website: https://aspenfunds.us/smart-real-estate-coach/ Website: https://aspenfunds.us Bob Fraser's Recommended Reading List: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell: https://amzn.to/3am1yOa The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor: https://amzn.to/30CKRcU Additional resources: Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/QLS

Feb 5, 2020 • 15min
Episode 137: Mindset, Mindset, Mindset!, with Chris Prefontaine
Chris is the best-selling author of Real Estate on Your Terms: Create Continuous Cash Flow Now, Without Using Your Cash or Credit. He's also the founder of SmartRealEstateCoach.com and the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast. Chris has been in real estate for over 25 years. His experience includes the construction of over 100 single-family and duplex homes (mostly in the 1990's and selectively to date), has owned a Realty Executives Franchise (Massachusetts 1994-2000) as broker/owner which maintained high per-agent standards and eventually sold to Coldwell Banker in 2000. The 2000's included coaching ½ million and higher REALTORs® in order to scale & automate their business throughout the US and Canada. He also participated (and still does selectively) in doing condo conversions (multi-family homes to condos) and "raise the roof" projects (converting single-family ranches to colonials in growth neighborhoods). Chris has been a big advocate of constant education and participates regularly in high-end mastermind groups, as well as consults with private mentors. He runs his own buying and selling businesses with his family team, which buys 2-5 properties monthly, so they're in the trenches every single week. They also help clients do the same thing around the country. Chris and his family team have done over 80 million in real estate transactions. They mentor, coach, consult, and actually partner with students around the country (by application only) to do exactly what they do. What you'll learn about in this episode: How perceived constraints hold you back, and what you and your business would look like in ten years without any imagined constraints Why it is important to consider what you can and should get rid of in your life to help you go further Why you should think about what changes you can make to what you do and how you do it that would be advantageous for your goals Why you should also consider what major "needle movers" in your business and life can make a big difference to your long-term outlook How to review the "five absolute musts" from the lists above that should be your top priorities and can make the most significant difference Why belief is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal to attain your goals and achieve success in all areas of your life Chris shares stories of his personal experience with belief as well as examples from his students to show how belief can drive your confidence and success Why mindset is the most important resource you need, even more than money, time, or relationships Why you should search online for someone with a similar story and challenges to yours who has overcome their challenges How to get a personal review from Chris of your three lists (what you should get rid of, what changes you can make, and what your needle movers are) Additional resources: Email kristen@smartrealestatecoach.com with subject line "My Assignment For Chris" Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoach.com/NFA Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoach.com/billionaire Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook

Jan 31, 2020 • 24min
Episode 136: Scaling Up Through Content Marketing, with Robert Rose
For more than 25 years, Robert Rose has helped marketers tell their story more effectively through digital media. As the Founder of The Content Advisory, Robert has worked with more than 500 companies, including 15 of the Fortune 100. He has provided strategic marketing advice and counsel for global brands such as Capital One, NASA, Dell, McCormick Spices, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Content Advisory is the education and consulting group for The Content Marketing Institute. "Marketing is telling the world you're a rock star. Content Marketing is showing the world you are one." Robert's third book – Killing Marketing, with co-author Joe Pulizzi has been called the "book that rewrites the rules of marketing." His second book – Experiences: The Seventh Era of Marketing is a top seller and has been called a "treatise, and a call to arms for marketers to lead business innovation in the 21st century." Robert's first book, Managing Content Marketing, spent two weeks as a top ten marketing book on Amazon.com and is generally considered to be the "owner's manual" of the Content Marketing process. What you'll learn about in this episode: Why Robert and his co-author Joe Pulizzi wrote their book Killing Marketing, and why content marketing is a highly effective and powerful marketing strategy Why it is important, especially for solopreneurs, to digitally demonstrate and represent the value you can offer to your customers/clients/audience Why creating digital content that can represent you online 24/7/365 is the only way to "scale" yourself as a solopreneur How to use your digital content marketing to position yourself as a visible expert in your work How to find what it is you enjoy doing and do well and then turn it into a content marketing channel How Robert made a huge mistake when he first decided to scale his business and create a media company and consulting firm, and how he recovered What Robert considers to be one of his biggest wins, and how a key realization about delegation resulted in tripling his revenue Why scaling his business smartly is the biggest challenge Robert is currently facing, and how he is educating himself to scale more effectively Why mentors and coaches have been instrumental in Robert's success, and why his mentors have changed over the course of his entrepreneurial journey Why any entrepreneur who is just getting started should be more concerned with the function of their day than with the form of their day Resources: Website: www.contentadvisory.net Website: www.contentmarketingworld.com Website: www.robertrose.net Additional resources: Elite Entrepreneurs Under $1M program: www.smartrealestatecoach.com/growwithelite Elite Entrepreneurs $1M Plus program: www.smartrealestatecoach.com/elite Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/QLS

Jan 29, 2020 • 24min
Episode 135: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Taking Action, with Gary Wilson
Gary Wilson is an expert in the world of real estate investing. He first began investing at the young age of 23, right after his college graduation. He went on to build a portfolio of more than 250 units, covering everything from single-family homes to an apartment complex with more than 80 units. Today, Gary is a self-made millionaire who continues to practice real estate and is also the Chief Wealth and Income Officer at My Investment Services and the Chief Guidance Officer at Path to Freedom. Gary has completed over 100 transactions per year consistently every single year, without a sales team or assistant and with virtually no marketing costs. He traded over 3,000 investment properties in less than five years. Gary Wilson is also the author of five real estate investment books, including Rental Profits Without the Pain, Flipping for Profits Without the Risk, Turning Real Estate Problems into Real Estate Profits, Wholesaling So Everybody Wins, and Real Estate Investor vs. Agent: How Both Can Make More Money, Not More Work. Gary is the Founder, Trainer and Coach of the Path to Profit System, teaching more than 15,000 agents and investors in person. Students of the Path to Profit System have gone on to create fortunes in brokerage, property management, and by applying multiple investment strategies including flipping, wholesaling, and acquiring rentals. Gary has appeared on over 100 national and local media outlets including CBS, FOX News, NBC, ABC, Business Week, and iTunes. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Gary initially got involved in real estate, and why he decided to make a career out of serving other real estate investors How Gary's My Investment Services organization came to be, and what services they offer to real estate investors Why building a great team of experienced professionals around you can help supercharge your investing What obstacles Gary often sees in his coaching students, and why Gary believes that surrounding yourself with successful people can help break down your limiting beliefs Why having a contingency "plan B" can often hold you back from finding success with your "plan A" How Gary dealt with the 2008 real estate recession while going through a divorce and dealing with a broken back from a skiing accident How Gary learned important lessons about asset protection, deal structuring, and borrowing from himself rather than other people What key daily activities Gary practices each and every day to operate at his maximum potential What important coaches and mentors Gary learned from throughout his career that reshaped the way he did business Resources: Website: www.myinvestmentservices.com Rental Profits Without the Pain by Gary Wilson: https://amzn.to/2MZ2nCH Flipping for Profit Without the Risk by Gary Wilson: https://amzn.to/35tOqmH Turning Real Estate Problems into Real Estate Profits by Gary Wilson: https://amzn.to/36pv5nP Wholesaling So Everybody Wins by Gary Wilson: https://amzn.to/2N1pBI8 Real Estate Investor vs. Agent by Gary Wilson: https://amzn.to/35s7MbL Dan Sullivan's Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/37BTjLC Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: https://amzn.to/36EMXeJ The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer: https://amzn.to/2FBT0ot Additional resources: Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/QLS

Jan 24, 2020 • 30min
Episode 134: A Deep Dive into the Crowdfunding Space, with Mark Roderick
Mark Roderick is a very "boring" corporate and securities lawyer at Flaster Greenberg PC in Cherry Hill, NJ. Since the JOBS Act of 2012, he has spent all of his time in the Crowdfunding space and today is one of the leading Crowdfunding and Fintech lawyers in the United States. He writes this widely read blog, www.markroderick.net, which provides readers with a wealth of legal and practical information for portals and issuers. He also speaks at Crowdfunding events across the country and represents industry participants across the country and around the world. What you'll learn about in this episode: An overview of the crowdfunding space for investors Mark's role as an attorney in the crowdfunding niche The different types of crowdfunding as we know it: donation-based and equity-based The 3 flavors of crowdfunding: Title II, Title III, and Title IV The advantages of blockchain technology and how you can use it for investing Resources: Website: www.markroderick.net LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroderick/ Blog: www.crowdfundattny.com Twitter: @CrowdFundAttny Additional resources: Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/QLS

Jan 22, 2020 • 50min
Episode 133: The High-Six Husband and Wife Associate Team, with Steve and Lauren Mernick
Steve and Lauren Mernick are a husband and wife team investing in real estate primarily in CT, but sometimes in RI and western MA. They come from various professional backgrounds (Steve from custom woodworking, Lauren from mental health). They have been interested in real estate investing for quite some time, but really kicked into gear about one-and-a-half years ago; they were fortunate enough to find Chris and the SREC team and haven't looked back since! Their goal is to be full time in real estate and to build something they can pass on to our kids. They have lots of different entrepreneurial interests and are looking forward to seeing them come to fruition. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Steve and Lauren find balance between their complex and active careers and being high-six associates, all while being parents to young children What the typical day in the Mernick household looks like, and how Steve and Lauren make time for investing work around everything else going on in their lives Why Steve and Lauren first got interested in real estate, and how real estate investing is helping them build the life they want for their family How real estate deals are helping Steve combat feelings of boredom and stagnation in his career Why being a part of the Smart Real Estate Coach community has helped empower Steve and Lauren to succeed How Steve and Lauren divide up their work, and why it is important to reframe your thoughts around rejection Steve and Lauren share the story of a recent subject-to deal that turned into a major win for them Who Lauren and Steve think should and shouldn't become associates under Chris Prefontaine's Smart Real Estate Coach program, and what benefits they received by becoming associates Why Lauren believes it's important to surround yourself by people who can be supportive of your real estate niche and who can hold you accountable Why there's no such thing as getting rich quick, and why you must be prepared to take the time to learn and put in the hard work Resources: Website: www.professionalhomesolutionsllc.com Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoach.com/nfa Additional resources: Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/QLS

Jan 17, 2020 • 25min
Episode 132: The Perfect Investment, with Paul Moore
After graduating with an engineering degree and then an MBA from Ohio State, Paul entered the management development track at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After five years, he departed to start a staffing company with a partner. They sold it to a publicly traded firm five years later for $2.9 million. Along the way, Paul was Finalist for Ernst & Young's Michigan Entrepreneur of the Year two years straight (1996 & 1997). Paul later entered the real estate sector, where he flipped over 50 homes and 25 high-end waterfront lots, appeared on HGTV's House Hunters, rehabbed and managed rental properties, built a number of new homes, developed a subdivision, and started two successful online real estate marketing firms. Three successful developments, including assisting with the development of a Hyatt hotel and a very successful multifamily project, led him into the commercial multifamily arena. Paul is the author of The Perfect Investment – Create Enduring Wealth from the Historic Shift to Multifamily Housing (2016). What you'll learn about in this episode: The strategies Paul recommends for earning 15+% safely in an environment where banks pay 0% on savings accounts, CDs and money market funds Why the illiquidity of real estate investments is extremely advantageous Why it is important for investors, entrepreneurs, and executives to find their "big why" How government tampering, the Great Recession, and historic demographic shifts led many to call multi-family real estate "the perfect investment" Why Paul prefers commercial real estate investing as another outlet for building wealth The common misperceptions of investing in mobile home parks and self-storage How you can dip your toe in the water if you haven't touched multi-family, mobile home parks, or self-storage How to get in touch with Paul if you are interested in getting started as an investor The importance of mentorship in commercial real estate investing Resources: Website: wellingscapital.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellings-capital-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellingscapital/ Twitter: @paulmooreinvest Email: paul@wellingscapital.com Free Report: Confessions of a Multi-Family Syndicator Book: The Perfect Investment Free Ebook: Email Paul for a copy Additional resources: Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/QLS

Jan 15, 2020 • 38min
Episode 131: Stomp Out Wall Street, with Ken Greene
Ken Greene thought he knew so much, but boy was he acting stupid being so frugal all his life. He wanted to retire by 30 and move into a lavish waterfront home on Lake Tahoe. To try and get there, he became that idiot who risked all his money chasing after outrageous returns via aggressive joint ventures, real estate and the stock market. 33 became his new 30, because it was then he became financially independent; he could retire…so I thought (remember, I was an idiot). But, he was an idiot with a house and 40 acres he owned outright. He had all kinds of investments and kept his money working, not sitting in a bank getting less than 1% in interest. He also had a great job working as a professional engineer (P.E.). Then 2008 kicked him in the stomach, and in the head, and a few times in the kidneys, and once in the head again. His investments vanished and the land he owned might as well have. Good thing he didn't save a dime. To be kind to my younger, know-it-all self, it all came down to understanding liquidity and cash flow (and that stubborn guy knew zip). There he was with nothing. He lost his house, sold his land for pennies, and became a punching bag for creditors. With no engineering work to be found, he took a sharp turn and jumped into the insurance and financial industry. At first, he really struggled. he was surrounded by an industry filled with people who only cared about closing the sale, dismissing any effort to educate their clients. Luckily, he did find a few mentors who valued educating their clients. They opened his eyes to outrageously effective ways to save and invest while maintaining cash flow and liquidity while sidestepping volatility. He went on to manically study and apply these methods to quickly rebuild and create a life for his family. Since losing everything, He's helped hundreds of clients reduce or eliminate debt, create a Bankosaurus™ and earn better yields with less risk by investing OFF Wall Street. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Ken initially got started in real estate Why Ken chose to transition from engineering to finance How Ken learned the value of liquidity the hard way Why it is beneficial to use a protective strategy when investing in real estate The fundamental difference between savings and investments How Ken helps his clients generate cash flow and build long term wealth with an emphasis on liquidity The "Bankosauraus" methodology for leveraging whole-life insurance policies Additional resources: Website: https://www.greenefi.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-greene/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreeneFinance/ Twitter: @engineerfinance Podcast: The Engineer of Finance Book Recommendation: Live Your Life Insurance by: Kim Butler

Jan 10, 2020 • 35min
Episode 130: Twelve Businesses Later: Talking to a Serial Real Estate Entrepreneur, with Greg Dickerson
Greg Dickerson is a serial entrepreneur, real estate developer, coach and mentor, he has bought developed and sold over $200 million in real estate, built and remodeled hundreds of custom homes and commercial buildings and started 12 different companies from the ground up. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Greg initially got started in real estate as a remodeling contractor and a commercial and residential developer How Greg operates in his particular niche of real estate, and why he is a big believer in delegating responsibility Why finding the right mentors who are already successful in the areas you want to operate in is the key to fast-tracking your success What three basic but important mistakes often stop real estate students and new investors from achieving the success they're looking for What qualities Greg looks for in the students he accepts, and why Greg believes in only accepting students for whom his coaching is the right fit What kind of success Greg has found doing deals on terms in his business, and what critical lessons he learned after building twelve different businesses How Greg and his real estate businesses survived the 2008 real estate market collapse, and how he was able to rebuild Why you should never, ever personally guarantee your debt, and why advancing the wrong people in your business can create lasting problems What daily habits Greg keeps to help him perform at his best, and why he strongly believes in continual learning and personal development Resources: Website: https://gregdickerson.com Telephone: (434) 326-3903 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/agregdickerson/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegregdickerson Twitter: @AGregDickerson YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/agregdickerson/videos Harry Edelson's Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/2EwWCr3 Additional resources: Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/webinar Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/termsbook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/ebook Website: www.SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/QLS


