Work with Derek.

Creative financing, closed through title.

Derek Smith is the founder and designated broker of Deal Smith Realty in Round Rock, Texas (TREC broker license 714810). He has closed over 200 real estate deals himself, and his brokerage has closed over 100 creative-finance deals: subject-to purchases, seller-financed sales, wraparound mortgages, lease options and novations. Most of those deals never went on the MLS.

Sellers call him when a normal listing won't work for them, and buyers call when a bank won't lend. His job is a structure both sides can live with, closed through a title company. He is also the go-to partner and broker for T. Alan Ceshker, an Austin real estate attorney who runs his own title office.

How Derek works a creative deal

1. First come the facts: the seller's loan balance, rate and payment, the state of the title, and what each side needs out of the deal.
2. The numbers go into a spreadsheet so both sides can see the payments, the equity and the exit.
3. Derek picks the structure (subject-to, seller financing, a wrap, a lease option or a mix) and goes through every line with you before you sign.
4. The deal is papered on TREC forms plus custom addenda, and the title company reviews and closes it.

Derek also founded Austin Investment Meetups, a 1,200-member network of Central Texas investors, wholesalers and creative-finance operators. He speaks English and Spanish and works across Central Texas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Baytown.

See how each structure works on the creative finance solutions page, or call (512) 784-1945 to talk through a deal.