The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast|Real Estate Investing

Chris Prefontaine
  • 4.9 (315)
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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!

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 550: How One Expired Listing Turned Into an $80K Subject-To Deal with Richard Whitman

    In this family-cast episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with our High 6 Associate Richard Whitman to walk through his 20-year journey from mechanic and accountant to creative real estate investor building three-payday deals. Rich bought his first flip back in 2005, was actively buying foreclosures through the 2008 crash, and today holds 13 properties, 20 units, and an Airbnb—plus he's now stacking terms deals on top of that portfolio.     We break down how he turned an expired listing from a veteran on the brink of giving the house back to the bank into a subject-to, three-payday deal worth roughly $80,000 in total profit, with $30,000 down, strong monthly cash flow, and a solid back-end. You'll hear how the bootcamp "light bulbs" helped him stop over-rehabbing, how our buyer-side systems and Wednesday Q&A calls fast-tracked his confidence, and why his mission now is to help families avoid foreclosure while hitting his goal of two creative finance deals a month.    If you're a W-2 earner, a seasoned flipper, or a buy-and-hold investor who knows there's more leverage in terms, this conversation will show you how to plug into the three-payday system and move from baby steps to "jogging" toward financial freedom.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 02:03 How Rich got the real estate itch 03:01 Buying foreclosures through the 2008 crash 04:10 Passion for foreclosures and helping people 05:26 From bootcamp light-bulb moments to joining the community 06:50 Why the three-payday structure clicked 07:25 Building a family business with his daughter 08:12 Deal breakdown: expired listing, veteran, and sub-to 09:10 Learning subject-to on the fly and educating the seller 10:02 Support from the Smart Real Estate Coach team 11:21 Why weekly buyer Q&A calls matter 15:02 The numbers: $30K down and ~80K total profit 16:04 Gratitude and impact: serving both sides of the table 17:55 Deal timelines: from lead to contract to funded buyer 18:37 Balancing helping family, flips, and three-payday goals 20:21 Leveraging coaches and a deep bench of experience 22:01 Mindset shift: from loss and fear to baby steps and jogging   Quotables   "I bought my first flip, cost me ten grand, put about twelve in it and sold it for fifty. So that gave me a good itch to start doing more."   "I'm just thankful for anything. I'm thankful I could help somebody out… I'm thankful I got somebody in a house that weren't able to get qualified through banks."   "Even if you just start out at the bottom level, get in there, put your foot in there and start taking the baby steps, and sooner or later you'll be jogging."   Links   Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    26 min

  2. MAR 4

    Episode 549: What it Takes to Go to the Next Level as A Real Estate Entrepreneur with Don Williams

    In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Don Williams, entrepreneur, sales and leadership expert, and host of The Proven Entrepreneur Show, to talk about what it really takes to go from W-2 employee to wealthy business owner and long-term real estate investor. Don's founded a dozen companies since 1986, started his first one with just $6,000, and bought his first commercial building almost by accident—then held it for decades while tenants paid down the debt.    We dig into why your tax situation changes the minute you stop taking a paycheck, the only two things that actually matter in business, how to use side hustles and coaching to de-risk the jump from corporate, and why buying the right deals and keeping them forever can quietly build "sleep-well" wealth.    If you're sitting on the fence about entrepreneurship or wondering how to scale your income and your portfolio, this conversation gives you a real, no-fluff roadmap.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:01 Who is Don Williams? 03:15 Learning from failure and slow lessons 04:46 Leaving your W-2 and becoming a first-time entrepreneur 06:11 Side hustles, fear, and crossing the street 07:01 Why every serious entrepreneur needs a coach 08:05 Don's first commercial property deal 09:07 10,000-sq-ft office building breakdown 10:10 Negotiating a 10-year fixed-rate loan 11:16 Cash flow, repairs, and never feeding the building 14:14 A near-miss with property taxes and foreclosure 15:17 "Buy, pay-off, keep forever" strategy 16:37 Paying for the right coaches (and why cheap is expensive) 18:18 The 1% rule deal bought sight unseen 19:09 Reputation as your most valuable asset 20:07 Winning on the buy side, not the sell side 21:10 Skillset vs mindset for entrepreneurs 22:20 Paying $15,000 for a half-day with a "genius" 23:49 Why getting the right coach is key in entrepreneurship 25:25 College ROI vs elite coaching ROI 26:25 The XTO Energy story and not needing to own it all 28:04 Hiring the best people on planet Earth 29:45 How to connect with Don 32:05 Christopher Robin's advice for investors and entrepreneurs   Quotables   "I made about a zillion mistakes in everything I ever did, but I won often enough and big enough to get ahead of the game."   "People overcomplicate business. There's like only two things to do in business: one is bring money in and the other is keep money from leaving."   "When you deal with the very best people on planet Earth, you can't pay too much. They'll demand that they deliver an ROI to you."   Links   Don Williams Global https://donwilliamsglobal.com   Don Williams don@donwilliams.com   The Proven Entrepreneur https://provenentrepreneurshow.com/   Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    36 min

  3. FEB 25

    Episode 548: Infinite Banking Meets Creative Real Estate Investing with Anthony Faso and Cameron Christiansen

    In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Anthony Faso and Cameron Christiansen, founders of Infinite Wealth Consultants and hosts of The Infinite Wealth Podcast, to unpack how infinite banking fits hand-in-glove with creative real estate.    We talk about using specially designed high-cash-value whole life insurance as your own private bank, why those policies don't go to zero the way stocks can, and how to store your "three paydays" in a vehicle that is safe, liquid, and tax-advantaged.    Anthony and Cameron walk through how to tell if your current policy is built correctly, how much capital you really need to get started, and how to use leverage and policy loans to scale a portfolio faster without giving up control to Wall Street.    If you're serious about passive income and long-term wealth, this conversation will give you a concrete game plan to evaluate infinite banking for yourself and your family.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:02 How infinite banking and our 3 Paydays System™ 01:20 Who are Anthony Faso and Cameron Christiansen? 03:01 What "Recovering CPA" means for Anthony 04:58 What is Infinite Banking? 06:48 The difference between infinite banking and traditional savings 08:13 Infinite banking vs. security backed line of credit 10:15 How much do you need to start infinite banking? 13:05 Good debt, bad debt, and fixing your mindset 14:13 How to change your mindset about debt 15:20 The disadvantages of paying with cash 16:15 Using leverage to scale your real estate portfolio 18:11 What to look out for when investing in your policies 19:57 Is your current whole life policy built for infinite banking? 22:14 FREE resources from Anthony and Cameron 23:33 Is infinite banking right for you? 25:00 How I personally use infinite banking 26:48 Free Smart Real Estate Coach resources   Quotables   "With infinite banking, it won't and can't go to zero. And with real estate, it won't and can't go to zero. Your house can't go to zero."   "We're designing it to minimize that death benefit and maximize cash. You're going to have cash from day one."   "I don't bring people on that do stuff that I don't do. I own policies personally in this arena, I own policies for the business, and I have each of my grandkids funded for a policy."   Links   Free Course: Infinite Wealth Consultants https://infinitewealthconsultants.com/smartrealestate   Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   3 Paydays® System - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    29 min

  4. FEB 18

    Episode 547: How to Attract Motivated Seller Leads Without Chasing Them with Alan Weiss

    In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Alan Weiss, one of the most respected consultants on the planet, to talk about how real estate investors can build a premium brand, attract deals without chasing, and scale beyond solo-operator status.   We unpack why trying to satisfy every seller and buyer "want" turns you into a commodity, how to instead sell to real needs, and what it really takes to position yourself as the authority in your market. Alan shares how he built one of the strongest independent consulting brands in the world, why responsiveness is one of the most underrated differentiators in business, and how to create evangelists who send you deal flow you could never buy with ads.   We also get into the mindset shift from W-2 to entrepreneur, why you must learn to handle rejection, and why every top performer you know (from Scottie Scheffler to Oprah) leans on great coaches. If you are a real estate investor, agent, or entrepreneur who wants to stop chasing leads and start running a real business with leverage, this conversation will stretch your thinking in the best way.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:02 Who is Alan Weiss? 02:08 How Alan's expertise will help real estate investors 03:28 Expert positioning for real estate professionals 04:10 Stop selling wants, start solving investor and seller needs 05:34 Attracting motivated seller leads without chasing 06:31 Creating raving fans that send you off-market real estate deals 08:16 Scaling your real estate business with reputation, not just more hustle 09:51 New real estate investors: how to build authority with no track record yet 10:31 Why you should sell transformations, not task lists 11:14 Thought leadership: being strategically contrarian in real estate 14:27 Market shifts, commissions, and charging for value 16:01 The most common mistakes people make in entrepreneurship 17:49 Why responsiveness is the secret weapon to success 19:54 Understanding that every top performer has coaches 21:20 How to connect with Alan and find his content   Quotables   "We are supposed to be experts. And part of the unique value is combining the real needs of the prospect with your expertise and helping shape that."   "Trying your best to meet people's wants is not a good idea because it just makes you a commodity."   "Responsiveness is as important as content. If you can just be responsive, you are going to have people's attention."   Links   Alan Weiss https://alanweiss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alanweissphd   Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    25 min

  5. FEB 11

    Episode 546: How to Build Your Rental Portfolio Like A Real Business with Ryan Barone

    In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Barone, co-founder and CEO of RentRedi, an all-in-one landlord app built specifically for independent owners from 1-50+ units. RentRedi helps self-managing investors streamline rent collection, maintenance, leasing, renewals, and accounting so they can scale without graduating to a big, clunky property-management platform or living inside spreadsheets and text threads forever.   Ryan walks through how getting buried in paperwork as a first-time renter in NYC led him to build an app for tenants, then, after thousands of conversations with landlords, evolve it into a full platform managing over $30 billion in assets across all 50 states. We dig into the data on tenant retention and on-time payments, why a fast maintenance response and automated reminders move the needle on ROI, how RentRedi boosts on-time payments just by reporting rent to all three credit bureaus, and how their new built-in accounting and tax tools turn year-end chaos into one click.    If you own even one rental, or you're doing creative terms deals and still managing doors, this conversation will show you how to run your portfolio like a real business, without losing your mind.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:14 Who is Ryan Barone? 02:37 RentRedi: All-in-one app for the full rental life cycle 04:40 Origin story: from frustrated renter to founder 05:43 The pivot: landlords wanted tools too 07:20 Bridging the "good landlord / good tenant" gap 10:17 The RentRedi demographic 11:33 Growing without changing systems 15:20 Studying $30B in assets to find what actually works 16:58 Hack #1: Fast maintenance response = longer tenure 19:15 Hack #2: Automate rent reminders, late fees & autopay 21:25 Built for our community too (from 1 deal to dozens) 22:00 Constantly evolving with the market (COVID, e-signing, etc.) 23:17 New integrated accounting & tax tools 24:40 Roadmap driven by customer chats   Quotables   "RentRedi is an all-in-one app that allows anybody to self-manage their rentals in a simpler, more affordable way and ultimately make them successful in doing so."   "Too often people get a bad rap of 'bad tenants' or 'bad landlords.' I think there's good people on both sides—they just don't have a good system in the middle."   "We've been able to boost on-time payments by 13% if we just report rent to the bureaus."   Links   RentRedi https://rentredi.com/   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    29 min

  6. FEB 4

    Episode 545: The $500k Profit Real Estate Deal that Investors Need to Know About with Brandon Cobb

    In this Smart Real Estate Coach master's class, I'm bringing back Brandon Cobb, founder of FBG Capital and host of Recession Resistant Real Estate Radio, to walk you through one of the most powerful and least taught niches in the business: entitling land for national homebuilders and turning dirt into 6–7 figure paydays.     Brandon shares how getting fired from his dream medical device job pushed him into entrepreneurship, why your W-2 is actually your biggest risk, and how he built a land development model where Wall Street-backed builders like Lennar, Pulte, D.R. Horton and others line up to buy his approved projects. We break down his three-phase entitlement process, why he never buys land until approvals are in place, what a typical 15-month entitlement timeline and $500K+ profit deal looks like, and who his Learn Land Development mastermind is actually for (hint: not brand-new investors or "no money down" thinkers).    If you've been looking for a way to do bigger deals without swinging hammers yourself, this episode will open your eyes to a niche that works in every real estate asset class.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:31 Recession Resistant Real Estate Radio 02:24 From dream job to "accidental entrepreneur" 03:35 Lessons from losing his dream job 04:51 Fast-forward: from hustling to large land deals with national builders 06:05 Why you can't rely on a single employer anymore 07:01 The opportunity in selling land to big developers 08:25 The "fastest-growing secret" niche in real estate 11:20 Working on a minimum of 50 units per project 12:50 Phase 1: Learn what the city wants & target the right land 14:05 Phase 2: Contract & entitlements (contingent on approvals) 16:18 Phase 3: Negotiate the best possible deal with your end buyer 17:36 Concept plan: aligning the city and the builder before spending big money 18:21 Resources: Skool community + training + coaching 19:01 Training Section #1: Land Development Blueprint 19:25 Training Section #2: Capital Raising Machine 19:46 Training Section #3: Weekly group coaching calls & in-person project walks 20:25 Land entitlement: Not an entry-level, no-money-down program 22:00 3 main exit paths for entitled land 24:22 Free course: LearnLandDevelopment.com   Quotables   "Nobody was going to look out for my financial well-being but me."   "We never buy anything. That's rule number one: do not buy it until all the approvals are in place."   "This is not a no-money-down, do-your-first-real-estate deal. This is for experienced investors who are ready to do bigger deals."   Links   Land Development Accelerator https://learnlanddevelopment.com/   Recession Resistant Real Estate Radio https://open.spotify.com/show/5tuCHd862XmOCviWocPt9o   Episode 498: $20M Annual Developer Success Secrets with Brandon Cobb https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-498-20m-annual-developer-success-secrets-with-brandon-cobb   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    28 min

  7. JAN 28

    Episode 544: Why Quitting Isn't an Option When Life Gets Loud (A Real Investor Update) with Jessica Johnson

    In this family cast episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down again with Jessica Johnson, one of our Wicked Smart® Associates who's quietly stacking 3 Paydays® while juggling a full-time job, two young kids, and all of life's curveballs. Since her first appearance back in October 2024, Jessica's added multiple terms deals, navigated a unique mixed-use property, and even had her second baby, all while leaning heavily on our coaches and community to keep moving forward.     We talk about how she went from her first taken to stacking several more, the emotional reality of dealing with a challenging buyer who moved out, and why she now believes the only real failure is not trying. Jessica shares practical advice for moms in real estate, how she builds a schedule around naps and newborn chaos, what she took away from In The Trenches Bootcamp, and how she's using books, audiobooks, and our "26 in 26" challenge to rebuild her mindset.    If you're a working parent, a newer creative real estate investor, or someone who's tempted to quit when deals get messy, this conversation will show you what's possible when you stay in the game, rely on your coaches, and let the 3 Paydays® system work for you.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:14 18-month journey: from first taken to multiple 3 Paydays 02:52 New baby, no "pause" on deals 03:42 Real talk for moms in real estate 04:45 Navigating Mom brain vs. Builder brain 06:18 Leaning hard on coaches (and why that matters) 09:13 Book a discovery call with Smart Real Estate Coach team 11:20 Takeaways from joining the In the Trenches Bootcamp in 2023 12:26 Unique deal update & two properties on the market 14:05 Next 18–24 months: quit the job, grow a team, be home with the kids 15:02 Turning struggles into future mentorship 16:10 Advice to new investors: the only way to fail is not to start 19:01 Perspective & peace in the middle of the mess 20:06 Audiobooks, commute time & the "26 in 26" challenge   Quotables   "If I'm not making deals, I'm not going to be able to be where I want to be with you in the future."   "The only way I can be a failure is if I don't try."   "If you don't go through struggles, you're not going to get real-life experience. And if you don't get the real-life experience, you're not going to be able to help others in the future."    Links   FREE Discovery Session https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   Register for the 3 Paydays Live Event https://3paydayslive.com   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    25 min

  8. JAN 21

    Episode 543: Why Creative Finance & the 3 Paydays System Beats the Old Ways

    In this solo episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm kicking off a fresh 12-month cycle by talking about something way more powerful than New Year's resolutions: rebuilding your thinking, your routines, and your environment so you can actually hit your real estate goals with certainty. Whether you're hearing this in January, March, or October, this is your invitation to "boom, reset" and design the next 12 months on purpose.     I share recent wins from our Wicked Smart® community—6-figure 3 Paydays® deals closed in December—and then walk you through how to stop letting the past dictate your future, why not hitting goals has nothing to do with who you are (and everything to do with who you think you're not), and how to use creative financing and terms deals to create money now, money over time, and wealth long term in any market. We dig into mindset, exposure, association, routines, plans vs. goals, and I give you a series of simple but uncomfortable questions that can change the way you show up for your business, your family, and your future.    If you've been learning, learning, learning but not pulling the trigger in real estate, this solo cast is your wake-up call to build a predictable plan, plug into the right community, and finally take action.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:01 December wins: real 3 Paydays examples from the community 02:02 Stop learning endlessly and start engaging 03:05 12-month reset, no matter what time of the year it is 03:45 Your last 12 months don't define your next 12 05:12 Big mindset reframe: it's not who you are… it's who you think you're not 06:11 Why creative terms and the 3 Paydays beat the old way 08:41 Be hyper-conscious of your exposure 10:44 Routines aligned with your plans for the next 12 months 11:28 How routines help make fewer decisions and lessen brain clutter 13:00 "Would be cool" goals vs. real plans 15:18 What is Presidents Club? (Small, private, not advertised) 16:02 Final gut-check questions for your next 12 months 19:06 Apprentice program, In the Trenches Bootcamp, and other programs   Quotables   "You're never going to rise above the stories you tell yourself."   "The routines will literally reduce the amount of decisions that you make that clog your brain and clog your progress."   "If you knew you absolutely knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that success was guaranteed for you and it was six months away, what would you do differently?"   Links   A Happy Pocket Full of Money https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Pocket-Money-Expanded-Study/dp/1571747362   Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

    23 min
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4.9
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About

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!

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