If you’re serious about wholesaling real estate, then you need to be focused on finding off market properties. Why? Because that’s where the real deals are.
There are a number of ways to find off market properties, but the best way is to focus on motivated sellers. These are people who are motivated to sell their property for a variety of reasons, and they’re usually willing to negotiate on price.
The best way to find motivated sellers is to use a combination of online and offline methods. The key is to be creative and to think outside the box. Motivated sellers are out there, you just need to know where to find them.
Below is a list of ideas you can use to find off market properties to wholesale
1. Look for For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Signs
One of the simplest ways to find motivated sellers is to look for homes that are for sale by owner. You can find these homes by driving around neighborhoods that you’re interested in investing in and keeping an eye out for signs that say “For Sale By Owner.” When you see one of these signs, you can reach out to the home owner and inquire about the property.
2. Attend Real Estate Auctions
Another great way to find motivated sellers is to attend real estate auctions. At these auctions, you’ll find properties that are being sold by owners who are motivated to sell quickly. This is often because the property is in foreclosure or there are other issues with the property that need to be resolved. When you find a property that you’re interested in, you can reach out to the real estate agent or home owner and inquire about the property.
3. Network with real estate professionals
One of the best ways to find motivated sellers is to network with real estate professionals. These professionals, such as real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and title companies, often have access to properties that are not yet on the market. When you develop relationships with these professionals, they may be willing to give you a heads up when they come across a motivated seller.
4. Look for Probate Properties
Another great way to find motivated sellers is to look for probate properties. These are properties that have been inherited by someone who may not be interested in keeping the property. To find these properties, you can search online for probate listings or contact your local county courthouse.
5. Check out foreclosure auctions
If you’re looking for motivated sellers, one place you can look is foreclosure auctions. These are properties that are being sold by the lender because the home owner has defaulted on their mortgage. When you find a property that you’re interested in, you can reach out to the real estate agent or home owner and inquire about the property.
6. Expired MLS Listings
Another great way to find motivated sellers is to look for expired MLS listings. These are properties that were listed for sale but did not sell. The owners of these properties may be motivated to sell quickly and will often accept a lower offer. You can find expired MLS listings by searching online or contacting your local real estate board.
7. Use a real estate bird dog
If you’re looking for motivated sellers, one option is to use a real estate bird dog. A real estate bird dog is someone who specializes in finding properties that meet your criteria. They will often find properties that are not yet on the market and may be willing to give you a heads up when they come across a motivated seller.
8. Search for Off Market Pre-foreclosure Properties
Another great way to find motivated sellers is to search for pre-foreclosure properties. These are properties that are in danger of being foreclosed on by the lender. The owners of these properties may be motivated to sell quickly in order to avoid foreclosure. You can find pre-foreclosure properties by searching online or contacting your local county courthouse.
9. Use Bandit signs
One way to find motivated sellers is to use bandit signs. Bandit signs are signs that are placed on vacant properties or along busy roads. These signs often say something like “We Buy Houses” or “Cash for Homes.” When you see one of these signs, you can contact the number listed and inquire about the property.
10. Absentee Owners list
If you’re looking for motivated sellers, one place you can look is the absentee owners list. This is a list of property owners who do not live in the same state as the property. The owners of these properties may be motivated to sell quickly because they are not able to keep up with the maintenance and repairs of the property. You can find the absentee owners list by searching online or contacting your local county assessor’s office.
11. Look for properties with code violations
Another great way to find motivated sellers is to look for properties with code violations. These are properties that have been cited by the city or county for having code violations. The owners of these properties may be motivated to sell quickly because they do not want to deal with the hassle of repairing the property. You can find properties with code violations by searching online or contacting your local city or county code enforcement office.
12. Delinquent Property Tax List
If you’re looking for motivated sellers, one place you can look is the delinquent property tax list. This is a list of properties that have unpaid property taxes. The owners of these properties may be motivated to sell quickly because they do not want to deal with the hassle of paying the back taxes. You can find the delinquent property tax list by searching online or contacting your local county treasurer’s office.
These are just a few of the many ways that you can find motivated sellers for wholesaling real estate. When you find a motivated seller, be sure to make an offer that is below market value so that you can make a profit on the sale. You can also use these same techniques to find motivated sellers for other types of real estate investing, such as fix and flip or buy and hold.
Happy hunting!
