Making the Most of Real Estate Listings

Many investors think that real estate listings will not help them find properties. They think that distressed property owners will not have the time to wait around for an agent. Investors spend lots of time and money finding deals in alternate ways. They may spend time using bandit signs, 800 numbers and offering rewards for information on deserted properties.

But any way that you can get leads on investment properties should not be neglected. Using real estate listings can often get you better results than you think. You can determine a certain set of things from a real estate listing. These things could possibly help you spot a good investment.

Never neglect free sources of deals. Use real estate listings to help you find good investment properties. You can look for the following “flags”:

* • A house that has been listed for a long time - The owners might be getting nervous if a house has been listed for a long time. They may be unaware that a real estate agent is not their only option. Your contacting them could actually be a life preserver.

* Check for lowered prices - 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. Drops in price may indicate an owner’s need to get out.

* • FSBO (For Sale By Owner) - People who are selling their property on their own may be feeling overwhelmed. They may just be glad to get out of their position. Since they are not paying commission they may take a lower offer.

* A good sign is when a property offers owner financing - Creative financing is by its very nature risky. It often involves working with buyers who do not have excellent credit or who cannot get bank loans. If a property owner will take this type of risk they are likely a motivated seller.

You can see now how real estate listings are actually a great source of leads. Pick up your local paper and see how many potential deals you spot in the real estate listings right away.