Hey, it’s Jordan Samuel Fleming — welcome back to That Real Estate Tech Guy! This week I’m joined by Chris Prefontaine, founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, who brings more than 34 years of real estate experience and one of the clearest perspectives on creative financing you’ll find.

Chris explains why creative financing isn’t just an “advanced strategy” — it’s actually one of the best ways for new investors to start. No banks, no big down payments, and no personal guarantees. We dig into how creative deals produce multiple paydays, why they work in any market cycle, and how his team mentors beginners through hands-on deal support across 80+ markets.

We also dive into mindset, focus, and the importance of mentorship — plus the role technology now plays in scaling training, reviewing seller calls, and eliminating the busywork that slows new investors down.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Introducing Chris and why Jordan’s recording on the road.

[1:04] – How the 2008 crash led Chris to rebuild his business around creative financing.

[2:04] – What creative financing is and why it eliminates bank dependence.

[3:22] – Why creative deals are ideal for beginners, not just veterans.

[4:13] – The flaw with starting in wholesaling or fix-and-flip.

[5:11] – Creative strategies that thrive in any market condition.

[6:15] – How Chris’s program takes true beginners from zero to real deals.

[10:34] – The business rules he built after the crash — and still follows.

[12:00] – The three steps every investor needs: niche, mentor, focus.

[13:22] – Why shiny-object syndrome derails investors.

[14:21] – The problem with constantly chasing new leads.

[17:55] – How tiny skill improvements compound into real performance.

[18:42] – Deals aren’t the hard part — mindset and habits are.

[20:26] – How AI is transforming student coaching and call review.

[21:57] – Why modern tech has simplified what once required multiple systems.

[22:52] – How AI call scoring and coaching will reshape acquisitions.

[24:02] – Chris’s biggest tech mistake: adopting unproven systems too early.

[24:44] – Tech advice for beginners: research and follow your mentor’s stack.

[25:08] – Three essential tools for new investors: phone, task system, communication tool.

[26:25] – Avoiding “creative avoidance” inside your CRM.

[27:39] – Why listening to live seller calls builds confidence and skill.

[28:42] – Chris’s free books and YouTube deal breakdowns.

[29:32] – How to get his books completely free.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Creative financing works everywhere and avoids traditional lending hurdles.
2. Choose the niche that matches you, not the one that’s loudest online.
3. Mentorship collapses your learning curve and keeps you accountable.
4. Three years of focus beats constant pivots.
5. Use tech to simplify, not distract — task tools, communication platforms, and AI call review matter.

Links & Resources

• Smart Real Estate Coach – https://smartrealestatecoach.com/
• Free Books – Visit WickedSmartBooks.com/jordan for Chris’s free books.
• SmrtPhone – Claim 5,000 free minutes, the phone system built for investors.
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes + exclusive tech discounts.

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with someone who needs a smarter path into real estate. More great conversations and tech insights are coming up!

Hey, it’s Jordan Samuel Fleming — welcome back to That Real Estate Tech Guy! Today I’m joined by my friend Steve Trang, founder of Objection Proof AI, host of Real Estate Disruptors, and one of the most respected sales trainers in the real estate investing world.

In this episode, Steve and I dive deep into the intersection of real-world sales fundamentals and artificial intelligence. Steve has trained thousands of salespeople and consulted with nine-figure companies — and now he’s building AI tools that reinforce the exact sales skills he’s taught for years. We cover everything from empathy and active listening to call scoring, role-playing bots, and the future of voice agents that can qualify leads, schedule appointments, and eventually help close deals.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Introducing Steve Trang and his evolution from top sales trainer to AI innovator.

[1:03] – Why Steve built Objection Proof AI and what problems it solves for sales leaders.

[2:55] – How the AI now handles call reviews, training, follow-up, and appointment setting.

[3:47] – Steve’s background: thousands trained, hundreds coached, and deep experience in real-world selling.

[7:56] – The real definition of empathy and how it translates into AI behavior.

[9:01] – Why robots can be better sales trainers than charismatic “natural” closers.

[11:58] – The classic sales mistake: offering solutions before understanding the problem.

[17:15] – Pattern visibility: how AI finally reveals true agent performance.

[19:19] – Using call reviews and feedback loops to help agents improve faster.

[23:20] – Role-playing bots as a training tool AND a hiring filter.

[27:55] – The gold mine in your CRM: reactivating old leads with AI.

[29:12] – Why outsourced call centers kill deals and how AI solves consistency.

[33:37] – The future of AI underwriting and real-time offer parameters.

[38:30] – Why AI will outperform low-level staff, not A-players.

[40:02] – Building companies made up only of top performers.

[47:33] – How to try Objection Proof AI and test the role-play or voice agent demos.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Empathy is the core sales skill — not emotion, but demonstrating true understanding. That’s what builds trust and closes deals.
2. AI amplifies real sales training, not scripts. It reinforces the exact skills top reps use.
3. Call scoring at scale changes everything. AI uncovers performance patterns no manager could ever catch manually.
4. Voice agents solve massive inefficiencies, from missed calls to dead follow-up sequences to reactivating CRM gold.
5. AI doesn’t replace A-players — it replaces C-players, allowing teams to run leaner, sharper, and more profitably.

Links & Resources

• Objection Proof AI – Upload a call or transcript for a free AI call analysis.
• Role-Play Bot Demo – Text ROLEPLAY to 33777.
• AI Appointment Setter Demo – Text CASH to 33777.
• SmartPhone – The only phone system built for real estate investors. Claim 5,000 free minutes.
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – Explore all episodes and exclusive tech discounts.

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with another investor or sales leader who wants to future-proof their business with better systems, better training, and smarter AI. More great conversations with industry innovators are coming your way!

Hey, it’s Jordan Samuel Fleming — welcome back to That Real Estate Tech Guy! Today, I’m joined by Andrew Lucas, a full-time investor, educator, and co-founder of the Deal Finders Club in Columbia, South Carolina. Andrew’s story is one that so many investors can relate to: starting with a few rentals, making the classic early mistakes, and finally deciding to treat real estate like a real business.

In this conversation, Andrew breaks down how he scaled from a handful of rentals to over 100 units, built his own property management company, launched a thriving meetup community, and now helps new investors skip the painful mistakes he made early on. We dive into his philosophy around systems, mentorship, the realities of property management, what separates hobbyists from professionals, and how technology should support — not distract — your investing journey.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Introducing Andrew Lucas and his journey from accidental investor to owning 100+ rentals.

[1:45] – How Andrew and his wife became full-time investors and built multiple income streams.

[3:00] – The reality of property management and why Andrew eventually built his own PM company.

[4:06] – Lessons from the hospitality industry and how “being too nice” killed early profitability.

[5:07] – The turning point: painting rentals while 7–8 months pregnant and deciding to do things right.

[10:11] – How one lawsuit opened Andrew’s eyes to the responsibilities of being a landlord.

[11:34] – How good property managers preserve asset value and enforce necessary boundaries.

[17:13] – Helping beginners avoid mistakes and providing guardrails as they build their business.

[18:44] – The transformation from dreamer to operator: when investing becomes a real business.

[20:18] – Why it only takes three flips a year to look like a professional investor to lenders.

[22:04] – Understanding the power of repeatable systems to scale beyond your day job.

[25:22] – The essential beginner tech stack: good data, a reliable phone system, and a simple CRM.

[28:44] – Why missed follow-ups cost more deals than bad marketing ever will.

[30:54] – Data quality: how bad lists waste money, kill ROI, and break your entire sales process.

[34:12] – Data paralysis vs. action: why investors must focus on outliers, not vanity metrics.

[35:00] – How to connect with Andrew and join the Deal Finders Club community.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Treat real estate like a business. Early mistakes come from poor systems, unclear boundaries, and inconsistent processes.
2. Most investors shouldn’t self-manage. Property management is process-heavy and legally risky without the right expertise.
3. Community accelerates success. Meetups, mentors, and peers help investors skip years of trial and error.
4. Start simple with tech. Only buy tools when your current process breaks — not because they look cool.
5. Good data drives the whole machine. Clean lists, solid follow-up, and reliable communication systems generate consistent revenue.

Links & Resources:

• Andrew’s Tech-Enabled Phone Number – Text him at (803) 216-5750
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – Listen to all episodes and secure exclusive tech discounts.

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy wherever you listen. Share it with someone who’s ready to build a real real estate business — not just dabble in it. Stay tuned for more practical conversations with the people shaping today’s investor tech landscape.