Starting in real estate ... in need of fresh ideas--marketing!!

[Kathryn Williams]

Greetings all,

I need some of advice of what I am or am not doing.  It seems as though looking for properties or working with realtors have not been an easy task.  With that being said, I'm interested in wholesaling properties in Sacramento to Vallejo Area in California.

 What are some great marketing strategies to incorporate in order to find off market deals?

I am currently pulling lists for home owners who recently declared bankruptcy and have a direct mail campaign set up.  I've ordered bandit signs and check craigslist daily for homes for sale by owner.  Finally, I've drove around the neighbhorhood to look for distressed properties and also mailed out letters to those home owners. 

It's been 3 months since I started real estate and would like some assistance. 

FYI, I was working with realtors because initially my goal was to start out in rehabbing, but with the stiff competition in California, I believe its best to wholesale first to gain capital in order to put in competitive offers in the future.

Thanks everyone for your help!

~~~Motivational tip: Hard work pays off, strive to exceed the standards~~~

Kathryn

[Brandon Battle]

The best way I have found to find off market deals is to watch the evening news and read the newspapers.Yep,watch the news long enough and you will hear bad things like "Oil companies announce layoffs" "Sears closing ten stores in 60 days".Many of those scared and depressed employees need to sell their homes fast and will accept whatever lifeline you through at them before they miss a payment and the banks come banging on their doors.Go to the closing store or business with plenty of fliers and cards and put them under their windshield wipers or hand them out as they leave the store.Good chance one or two of the mid level managers and senior employees will call you asking what you might pay for it.Going to Bible Studies groups and prayer groups can be great as well with everyone praying they find a new job soon or just became a widowed spouse or lost their parents.Get to them before they call a real estate agent for help.