How to get a subto deal under contract
If you're out there trying to land your first Subject-To (subto) or seller finance deal, you’ve probably run into one of two types of sellers:
The one who wants way too much money for their house.
The one who’s in so much pain they don’t see a way out.
That’s where creative finance comes in—not as a flashy pitch, but as a solution to real problems.
But the key is this:
You don’t lead with creative finance.
You earn your way to it by disqualifying everything else first.
Step 1: Aggressively Disqualify Easier Options
Before you ever bring up subto or seller finance, you need to rule out three things:
1. Cash Offer
If there's a cash offer that works, take it and do a clean, fast deal. If not, it's important that the seller realize for themselves that a cash offer won’t cut it
If your cash offer is below the seller's loan balance, you still make the offer (don’t skip it).
Now plant the seed:
“Anyone offering you $20K more than me probably can’t close. We all use the same math.”
This protects the seller from inexperienced/unrealistic wholesalers and allows you to pivot to how you can close.
2. MLS / Listing with a Realtor
Ask why they haven’t listed—or why it didn’t sell. Days on market? Hate showings? Fee avoidance? Whatever it is, let them say it. You’re guiding, not pushing.
Once the seller disqualifies cash offers and realtors, you move on...
3. Keeping the Property
Why not rent it out? Refi? Move a family member in?
Say it like you mean it. This is your chance to surface their real problem:
“Maintenance... Renters... Dealing with all that... I just can’t anymore.”
Bingo. That’s your entry point.
Step 2: Shift the Dynamic—From Pitching to Solving
Once those three are off the table, you can come around to their side of the table (literally and figuratively) and say:
“Let’s talk options. To hit your price, I can take over your payments. I can bring cash for your move. I can help you avoid another month of stress.”
You’re not begging for seller finance. You’re showing what you can do. If it works, great. If not, at least they know you were honest.
Step 3: Pro Tip - Don't be a Beggar
If you're asking the seller to do you a favor by giving you seller finance or letting you take over their mortgage—you probably don't have a deal.
The strongest deals are win-wins:
You solve a real problem.
They get out of a jam with dignity.
Everyone walks away feeling like they made the right call.
Real Example:
The author closed a Colorado subto where the sellers actually paid him $200/month just to take the house—because the pain was that real.
They had already tried:
Selling on the MLS (no luck)
Selling for cash (loan balance too high)
Keeping it (moved an hour away and didn't want to deal with renters)
The deal wouldn’t cash flow immediately, but after understanding the full picture, a creative deal was structured to benefit both sides. That’s not luck. That’s all that's left after disqualifying the normal options.
Want to do it the right way?
You don’t need all the answers. You just need to know a guy (or a team).
✅ Creative TC helps you structure safe, compliant creative deals that work for you and the seller.
✅ DOS Guard helps prevent and handle the Due on Sale clause.
Whether you’re unsure how to write the offer, what documents to use, or if the deal is even worth pursuing, Creative TC is here to help.
Do you need help with the contract? Creative TC has flat-fee contract consults and has helped hundreds of deals go under contract. Use our Contract Consult to get your deal signed.
Book a free consult with Creative TC now
👉 https://creativetc.io/consultation
Worried about the Due on Sale clause?
👉 Get protected with DOS Guard
Confidence doesn't come from hype—it comes from knowing you're ready.
