Making the Most of Real Estate Listings
Oct 13th, 2009 by Reading and Writing
Often, investors think that real estate listings are not a good way to find properties. They think that distressed property owners will not have the time to wait around for an agent. Investors often devote a lot of time and money to alternative methods of finding deals. These alternatives may include bandit signs, finding deserted properties and running 800 numbers.
But you should not neglect any way that you can get good leads on investment properties. The use of real estate listings might yield better results than you expect. You can learn a lot of important things from real estate listings. Spotting these things could lead to a good investment opportunity.
You should not neglect to use free sources of leads. You can and should use real estate listings to locate good investment properties. Watch out for these telltale signs:
* Look for houses that have been listed for a long time - For starters, it is possible that the owners are getting nervous. They may be unaware that a real estate agent is not their only option. Your contacting them could be a lifesaver as far as they are concerned.
* • A house that has recently had the price lowered - Houses with recent drops in price often are owned by people who are getting more motivated. After all, if you had all the time in the world you would wait for your asking price. A drop in price can be an indicator that the owner needs out.
* A FSBO sign is a good sign - It is likely that FSBO owners are overwhelmed. They may just be happy to be out of the situation that they were in. Since they do not have to pay an agent they may take a lower offer also.
* Owner financing is a good sign - Creative financing by nature is risky. It often involves working with buyers who do not have excellent credit or who cannot get bank loans. If a property owner is willing to take this type of risk they are likely a motivated seller.
It is likely clear to you now that real estate listings are a good source for leads. Use your local real estate listings to spot some potential deals today.
