Making the Most of Real Estate Listings in Your Paper

Many investors think that real estate listings will not help them find properties. They think that people with distressed properties will not have time to wait on an agent. There are lots of investors who spend lots of time and money finding deals alternative ways. These may include bandit signs, 800 numbers and locating deserted properties.

But you should never neglect good sources of leads on investment properties. The use of real estate listings might yield better results than you expect. A real estate listing will help you determine certain things. You might end up with a great investment opportunity thanks to this information.

Do not overlook free sources for leads. You will be able to use real estate listings to find great investment properties. You should watch for these types of flags:

* Keep an eye out for houses that have been listed a long time - It is possible that the owners are starting to get nervous. They may not know that a real estate agent is not their only option. They may feel as if you have thrown them a life preserver.

* Prices that have been recently lowered - Motivated sellers often are compelled to drop their asking prices. If they had time to spare they would wait it out. Drops in price may indicate an owner’s need to get out.

* A FSBO sign is a good sign - Selling a property on your own can be overwhelming. They may just be happy to be out of the situation that they were in. Since they are not paying commission they may take a lower offer.

* • Properties that offer “creative” or owner-financing - Creative financing by nature is risky. Usually it involves working with buyers who cannot get bank loans. If a property owner is willing to take this type of risk they are likely a motivated seller.

You can probably see now how real estate listings can be a great source of leads. Use your local real estate listings to spot some potential deals today.