Properties off the market

[Mariana Pasin]

Hello all,

I just started considering real estate investment (rental income) as my future. I have a question that might sound pretty simple for most of you here. Yesterday I was watching "Flip or Flop" and they were interested in purchasing (all cash) a property that was "off market" before it go to the public sale on the next day. How does that work? Where/Who has access to "off market" properties? Are they always cash transactions? 

Thank you already for any answer!