Making the Most of Real Estate Listings in Your Paper

September 6th, 2009 |

Author: elhb

Real estate investors often think that they will not find leads in real estate listings. After all, people who own properties that are attractive to investors probably do not have time to wait around on an agent. There are many investors who decide to spend a great deal of time and money finding leads other ways. These may include bandit signs, 800 numbers and locating deserted properties.

You know that you should never neglect solid sources on leads for investment properties. Real estate listings hold more promise than you might expect. A real estate listing will help you determine certain things. Spotting these things could lead to a good investment opportunity.

Do not neglect a free source of leads. You can and should use real estate listings to locate good investment properties. Always keep an eye open for these flags:

* Look for houses that have been listed for a long time - For one thing, the owners may be getting nervous. They might not know that they have options other than a real estate agent. They likely will consider your interest with excitement.

* • A house that has recently had the price lowered - People who drop their asking prices are often motivated to sell. After all, if they had time to spare then they would wait out the buyers. If an owner needs to get out, a drop in price may be an indicator.

* FSBO signs in yards or listings are promising - Selling a property on your own can be overwhelming. They may be happy to not have to deal with the situation anymore. They might also be willing to take a lower offer because they are not paying a commission.

* Owner financing is a good sign - Creative financing is an inherent risk. Usually it involves working with buyers who cannot get bank loans. A property owner who will take this risk is often a motivated seller.

You can see now how real estate listings are actually a great source of leads. Pick up your local real estate listings and start spotting potential deals.