Not Just A Transaction Nick Prefontaine and Zachary Beach

Episode Topic:
In this episode of Not Just a Transaction, hosts Nick Prefontaine and Zachary Beach chat with special guest Steve Mernick about his role as Head of Acquisitions at Original Real Estate. Steve explains how his work can help change the trajectory of the lives of the people they support and what he does to make that happen. He also shares a little bit about himself and how he went from hustling and working two jobs to making this his full-time passion.
Glossary of Special Terms Used in this Episode:
Down payment – An initial payment made when purchasing a home. Rent-to-Own – An agreement between a homeowner and a renter that gives a renter the option to purchase the rented property before the end of the rental period. What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Who Steve Mernick is and how he got into real estate What the function is for Head of Acquisitions of a rent-to-own real estate business Steve’s personal background and passion for woodworking What a day as Head of Acquisitions looks like The impact of Steve’s work and why he views it as “not just a transaction.” Resources:
Website: http://homeonyourterms.com/ Instagram: instagram.com/homeonyourterms Additional Resources:
Original Real Estate Website: http://originalre.com/ Contact Us: http://originalre.com/contact/ Steve’s Bio:
Steve Mernick is a Real Estate expert in Creative Financial Real Estate with over 4 years of experience in this RE niche. He is also a Creative financial RE coach and mentor to students both nationally and internationally. Steve’s expertise involves Real Estate deal structuring and Joint venture partnerships, and he and his wife, Lauren, are the founders of Home on Your Terms. Steve and Lauren have 2 children and two dogs, and in his free time, Steve can be found playing Cornhole.
Nick’s Bio:
In 2003, Nick Prefontaine was in a snowboarding accident that left him in a coma for over 3 weeks. The doctors told his parents that he probably wouldn’t walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Less than 3 months later, he was running out of Franciscan Children’s hospital. Now Nick speaks to groups that benefit from his message of overcoming adversity.
Nick grew up in the real estate industry and got started at an early age. Most notably, he was knocking on Pre-Foreclosure doors at 16, doing up to 50 doors a day. This experience helped shape Nick’s real estate career. When someone opens the door you better have something compelling to say.
Now, Nick specializes in working with lease purchase buyers to get them into a home and on the path to homeownership. That includes working with them throughout the entire deal which ends in them being able to get their own loan. Getting buyers to the finish line is something Nick and the entire team at Original Real Estate take pride in. That is something that separates them from their competition. Regardless of a buyer’s credit situation, he looks at their complete financial picture and comes up with a plan to get them into a home.
Zachary’s Bio:
Zachary Beach is an Amazon Best-Selling Author of The New Rules of Real Estate Investing and revised edition of Real Estate On Your Terms. He has been an authority in real estate for 7 years now and has personally completed hundreds of real estate transactions and has mentored investors to complete thousands of transactions.
At the age of 25, Zachary decided to leave the world of bartending and personal training and jump into the family business. Now he is an equal partner and runs the acquisitions department, focusing on helping sellers accomplish their goal of selling their property.
If Zachary is not working, you will find him enjoying the outdoors or spending time with his wife Kayla and two kids, Remi and Bellamy. His passion for family and business is what keeps him motivated and excited to take on each day.

Episode Topic:
In this episode of Not Just a Transaction, host Nick Prefontaine gives an in-depth look at the buyer journey working with Original Real Estate through rent-to-own. Nick explains his process of vetting potential buyers, the importance of ensuring a solid debt-to-income ratio, and how his team works with buyers to transition them from renters to homeowners.
Glossary of Special Terms Used in this Episode:
Debt-to-Income Ratio – The percentage of your monthly pre-tax income that goes toward paying your existing debts and monthly bills. Down payment – An initial payment made when purchasing a home. Deposit – An amount of money paid as an installment towards a purchase. Rent-to-Own – An agreement between a homeowner and a renter that gives a renter the option to purchase the rented property before the end of the rental period. What you’ll learn about in this episode:
A 10,000-foot view of how the process works when buying with Original Real Estate What the first steps are to becoming a rent-to-own buyer The monetary qualifications needed to ensure you will be successful in your rent-to-own journey How Original Real Estate helps buyers go from renters to homeowners What the non-negotiables are for buyers working with Original Real Estate How signing up for the email list will give you an exclusive look at homes before they are offered to the public Resources:
Original Real Estate Website: http://originalre.com/ Contact Us: http://originalre.com/contact/ Nick’s Bio:
In 2003, Nick Prefontaine was in a snowboarding accident that left him in a coma for over 3 weeks. The doctors told his parents that he probably wouldn’t walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Less than 3 months later, he was running out of Franciscan Children’s hospital. Now Nick speaks to groups that benefit from his message of overcoming adversity.
Nick grew up in the real estate industry and got started at an early age. Most notably, he was knocking on Pre-Foreclosure doors at 16, doing up to 50 doors a day. This experience helped shape Nick’s real estate career. When someone opens the door you better have something compelling to say.
Now, Nick specializes in working with lease purchase buyers to get them into a home and on the path to homeownership. That includes working with them throughout the entire deal which ends in them being able to get their own loan. Getting buyers to the finish line is something Nick and the entire team at Original Real Estate take pride in. That is something that separates them from their competition. Regardless of a buyer’s credit situation, he looks at their complete financial picture and comes up with a plan to get them into a home.

Episode Topic:
In this episode of Not Just a Transaction, hosts Nick Prefontaine and Zachary Beach chat about if Original Real Estate can make deals with your landlord so that you can rent-to-own the property. During the episode, they explain why they only work with properties that they control and challenges that may arise with your home deposit.
Glossary of Special Terms Used in this Episode:
Equity – The difference in value between a home’s fair market value and the amount of outstanding debt on the home through mortgages or other types of liens. Down payment – An initial payment made when purchasing a home. Rent-to-Own – An agreement between a homeowner and a renter that gives a renter the option to purchase the rented property before the end of the rental period. What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Why the rent that you’ve been paying for years in your current rental wouldn’t count towards your deposit if you now decided to purchase the home Why Original Real Estate can only offer rent-to-own deals on the properties that they control How agreeing on a deposit price with a current tenant and Original Real Estate can be challenging Why a landlord may not be interested in a rent-to-own deal, and what additional steps are required even if they are interested Why does any buyer, including tenants, have to be vetted by the Original Real Estate process Resources:
Original Real Estate website: http://originalre.com/ Contact Us: http://originalre.com/contact/ Nick’s Bio:
In 2003, Nick Prefontaine was in a snowboarding accident that left him in a coma for over 3 weeks. The doctors told his parents that he probably wouldn’t walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Less than 3 months later, he was running out of Franciscan Children’s hospital. Now Nick speaks to groups that benefit from his message of overcoming adversity.
Nick grew up in the real estate industry and got started at an early age. Most notably, he was knocking on Pre-Foreclosure doors at 16, doing up to 50 doors a day. This experience helped shape Nick’s real estate career. When someone opens the door you better have something compelling to say.
Now, Nick specializes in working with lease purchase buyers to get them into a home and on the path to homeownership. That includes working with them throughout the entire deal which ends in them being able to get their own loan. Getting buyers to the finish line is something Nick and the entire team at Original Real Estate take pride in. That is something that separates them from their competition. Regardless of a buyer’s credit situation, he looks at their complete financial picture and comes up with a plan to get them into a home.
Zachary’s Bio:
Zachary is an Amazon Best-Selling Author of The New Rules of Real Estate Investing and revised edition of Real Estate On Your Terms. He has been an authority in real estate for 7 years now and has personally completed hundreds of real estate transactions and has mentored investors to complete thousands of transactions.
At the age of 25, Zachary decided to leave the world of bartending and personal training and jump into the family business. Now he is an equal partner and runs the acquisitions department, focusing on helping sellers accomplish their goal of selling their property.
If Zachary is not working, you will find him enjoying the outdoors or spending time with his wife Kayla and two kids Remi and Bellamy. His passion for family and business is what keeps him motivated and excited to take on each day.

Episode Topic: In this episode of Not Just a Transaction, hosts Nick Prefontaine and Zachary Beach chat about why sellers choose to have Original Real Estate handle their rent-to-own properties instead of doing it themselves. They explain the importance of the systems and processes that they have in place and how those systems result in a more successful transaction. Nick and Zach also share how they work with buyers to ensure success on their end of the deal.
Glossary of Special Terms Used in this Episode:
Equity – The difference in value between a home’s fair market value and the amount of outstanding debt on the home through mortgages or other types of liens. Down payment – An initial payment made when purchasing a home. Rent-to-Own – An agreement between a homeowner and a renter that gives a renter the option to purchase the rented property before the end of the rental period. What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Why sellers trust Original Real Estate to handle their rent-to-own properties instead of trying to do it themselves What type of sellers Original Real Estate works with and what they expect out of the experience How Original Real Estate’s multi-layered processes help set their buyers up for success The importance of real estate experience in the rent-to-own business How the systems and processes Original Real Estate has in place benefit both buyers and sellers Resources:
Original Real Estate website: http://originalre.com/ Contact Us: http://originalre.com/contact/ Nick’s Bio:
In 2003, Nick Prefontaine was in a snowboarding accident that left him in a coma for over 3 weeks. The doctors told his parents that he probably wouldn’t walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Less than 3 months later, he was running out of Franciscan Children’s hospital. Now Nick speaks to groups that benefit from his message of overcoming adversity.
Nick grew up in the real estate industry and got started at an early age. Most notably, he was knocking on Pre-Foreclosure doors at 16, doing up to 50 doors a day. This experience helped shape Nick’s real estate career. When someone opens the door you better have something compelling to say.
Now, Nick specializes in working with lease purchase buyers to get them into a home and on the path to homeownership. That includes working with them throughout the entire deal which ends in them being able to get their own loan. Getting buyers to the finish line is something Nick and the entire team at Original Real Estate take pride in. That is something that separates them from their competition. Regardless of a buyer’s credit situation, he looks at their complete financial picture and comes up with a plan to get them into a home.
Zachary’s Bio:
Zachary is an Amazon Best-Selling Author of The New Rules of Real Estate Investing and revised edition of Real Estate On Your Terms. He has been an authority in real estate for 7 years now and has personally completed hundreds of real estate transactions and has mentored investors to complete thousands of transactions.
At the age of 25, Zachary decided to leave the world of bartending and personal training and jump into the family business. Now he is an equal partner and runs the acquisitions department, focusing on helping sellers accomplish their goal of selling their property.
If Zachary is not working, you will find him enjoying the outdoors or spending time with his wife Kayla and two kids Remi and Bellamy. His passion for family and business is what keeps him motivated and excited to take on each day.

Episode Topic:
In this episode of Not Just a Transaction, hosts Nick Prefontaine and Zachary Beach chat with special guest Devin Sheehan about his real estate journey. They discuss how Devin’s background in investing and flipping homes makes him a more informed real estate agent. Devin also shares his views on the importance of maintaining relationships with past clients and how it has led to his successful career in real estate.
Glossary of Special Terms Used in this Episode:
Equity – The difference in value between a home’s fair market value and the amount of outstanding debt on the home through mortgages or other types of liens. Flipping – When a real estate investor purchases a distressed property or a home in need of repairs or renovation, makes the needed changes, then resells the property at a markup. Rent-to-Own – An agreement between a homeowner and a renter that gives a renter the option to purchase the rented property before the end of the rental period. What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Who Devin Sheehan is and how he became a real estate agent and investor Why it’s beneficial to work with seasoned investors over traditional sellers What a day in Devin Sheehan’s business life looks like The importance of reputation and standards when flipping homes How long-term relationships can be advantageous to your real estate business Resources:
Website: devin.fitzpatrickteamluxury.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-sheehan-729337135/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devinsheehanrealestate/ Additional Resources:
Pre Property Solutions website: http://originalre.com/ Contact Us: http://originalre.com/contact/ Devin’s Bio:
Devin Sheehan, originally from upstate New York, has been living in Newport, Rhode Island and has a double major in Supply Chain Management and Entrepreneurship. He holds a strong background in sales, emerging technologies, and social media. His compassion for people and his ability to communicate effectively with his clients allows him to excel in real estate with the Fitzpatrick Team.
Nick’s Bio:
In 2003, Nick Prefontaine was in a snowboarding accident that left him in a coma for over 3 weeks. The doctors told his parents that he probably wouldn’t walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Less than 3 months later, he was running out of Franciscan Children’s hospital. Now Nick speaks to groups that benefit from his message of overcoming adversity.
Nick grew up in the real estate industry and got started at an early age. Most notably, he was knocking on Pre-Foreclosure doors at 16, doing up to 50 doors a day. This experience helped shape Nick’s real estate career. When someone opens the door you better have something compelling to say.
Now, Nick specializes in working with lease purchase buyers to get them into a home and on the path to homeownership. That includes working with them throughout the entire deal which ends in them being able to get their own loan. Getting buyers to the finish line is something Nick and the entire Pre Property Solutions team take pride in. That is something that separates them from their competition. Regardless of a buyer’s credit situation, he looks at their complete financial picture and comes up with a plan to get them into a home.
Zachary’s Bio:
Zachary Beach is an Amazon Best-Selling Author of The New Rules of Real Estate Investing and revised edition of Real Estate On Your Terms. He has been an authority in real estate for 7 years now and has personally completed hundreds of real estate transactions and has mentored investors to complete thousands of transactions.
At the age of 25, Zachary decided to leave the world of bartending and personal training and jump into the family business. Now he is an equal partner and runs the acquisitions department, focusing on helping sellers accomplish their goal of selling their property.
If Zachary is not working, you will find him enjoying the outdoors

Episode Topic: In this episode of Not Just A Transaction, hosts Nick Prefontaine and Zachary Beach chat about the pitfalls that occur when working with lenders who are not familiar with the Pre Property Solutions rent-to-own program. They explain a current situation a buyer who chose their own lender is facing. Nick and Zach also share why they have spent time developing relationships with lenders.
Glossary of Special Terms Used in this Episode:
Lender – A bank, credit union, or other financial institution that provides mortgage loans to qualified buyers. Rent-to-Own – An agreement between a homeowner and a renter that gives a renter the option to purchase the rented property before the end of the rental period. What you’ll learn about in this episode:
Why Pre Property Solutions refers buyers to specific lenders, even though they aren’t getting a kickback What happens when a lender can’t close a deal when their underwriters have never seen this type of agreement How not working with the lenders that Pre Property Solutions has built a relationship with can cause home buyers unnecessary stress What experience is Nick currently facing with a buyer who initially chose to find their own lender for their rent-to-own property What is the difference between lenders that Pre Property Solutions recommends and other traditional lenders Resources:
Pre Property Solutions website: https://www.prepropertysolutions.com/ Contact Us: https://www.prepropertysolutions.com/contact/ Nick’s Bio:
In 2003, Nick Prefontaine was in a snowboarding accident that left him in a coma for over 3 weeks. The doctors told his parents that he probably wouldn’t walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Less than 3 months later, he was running out of Franciscan Children’s hospital. Now Nick speaks to groups that benefit from his message of overcoming adversity.
Nick grew up in the real estate industry and got started at an early age. Most notably, he was knocking on Pre-Foreclosure doors at 16, doing up to 50 doors a day. This experience helped shape Nick’s real estate career. When someone opens the door you better have something compelling to say.
Now, Nick specializes in working with lease purchase buyers to get them into a home and on the path to homeownership. That includes working with them throughout the entire deal which ends in them being able to get their own loan. Getting buyers to the finish line is something Nick and the entire Pre Property Solutions team take pride in. That is something that separates them from their competition. Regardless of a buyer’s credit situation, he looks at their complete financial picture and comes up with a plan to get them into a home.
Zachary’s Bio:
Zachary is an Amazon Best-Selling Author of The New Rules of Real Estate Investing and revised edition of Real Estate On Your Terms. He has been an authority in real estate for 7 years now and has personally completed hundreds of real estate transactions and has mentored investors to complete thousands of transactions.
At the age of 25, Zachary decided to leave the world of bartending and personally training and jump into the family business. Now he is an equal partner and runs the acquisitions department, focusing on helping sellers accomplish their goal of selling their property.
If Zachary is not working, you will find him enjoying the outdoors or spending time with his wife Kayla and two kids Remi and Bellamy. His passion for family and business is what keeps him motivated and excited to take on each day.