From the Crash of '08 to Creative Financing Mastery with Chris Prefontaine

In this episode, Fredrik sits down with real estate veteran and founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, Chris Prefontaine. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Chris opens up about his rollercoaster journey, from building homes in the 90s to losing everything during the 2008 financial crisis because he was personally signed on loans. Chris shares how he dug himself out of the trenches by developing a creative financing methodology that requires no banks, no personal credit, and no personal guarantees.  KEY TAKEAWAYS You do not need to hold the deed (and the associated debt) to profit from real estate. By using lease-purchase agreements or owner financing, you can control a property and reap the financial benefits without the risks of traditional ownership. One of the hardest lessons Chris learned from the 2008 crash was the danger of signing personally on bank loans. His current strategy focuses strictly on acquiring properties on terms, ensuring personal assets are never at risk if the market turns. Many people view entrepreneurship as risky, but Chris argues that relying on a single employer for your livelihood is the actual gamble. Building your own business or investment portfolio creates true security. A deal isn't dead once it's signed. Chris explains the concept of ‘wealth stacking’, where you can renegotiate terms (like extending a lease or converting it to a purchase) years down the line to significantly increase the profitability of a single deal. You don't have to be an expert to start. By leaning on a community or a mentor who is actively doing deals in the market (not just selling theory), you can leverage their credibility and experience to close deals you couldn't handle alone. BEST MOMENTS "I went to get back into real estate and I said, 'Okay, I have no money, I have no credit... I was starting from scratch.' The bullet points that came up were: No banks, no signing personally, no using my own cash." "I like control more than ownership. Ownership implies I have a deed, which implies I have debt. Control means I have a contract that allows me to profit." "You can say the wrong thing, you can throw up on the phone, and if they are motivated, they’re not going anywhere." "Investing in you is not debt, it's a super smart investment. Your job is the risk." "We don't just sell things to students; we actually do deals with them. When they hit the potholes and the speed bumps... we're there because we're revenue sharing with them." ABOUT THE GUEST Chris Prefontaine Free resource your book:  3paydaysbooks.com/invest smartrealesatecoach.com Books by Fredrik Sandvall Options Strategy: Build to Keep. Ready to Sell Tomorrow. For founders and CEOs who want businesses that compound in value, stay under control, and are always sale-ready. ⁠https://amzn.to/4pwVhoi⁠ The Abyss of Finance: Trust, Leverage and the Cycles of Collapse For investors and leaders who want to understand why financial systems break before they do. ⁠https://amzn.to/3YsRKfI⁠ About the Podcast Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠