non-realtors disadvantage

[Marci Stein]

I think i would have to switch from being a social worker to become a realtor in order 

to be a sucessful investor. Every time i search the MLS and find an interesting property,

it's already taken. I know R.e. agents get first pick, so how can the rest of us ever find 

profitable investments? Very discouraging.

[Robert Leonard]

@Marci Stein I think  you need to rethink what you think is a problem.  You don't have to become a realtor to be a successful investor.  As @James Wise pointed out, there are some advantages to having a realtor's license.  I am an investor with a realtor's license - that doesn't mean I had to become a realtor.  I invested for over 20 years without the license, but now that I'm a full time investor, the license is very helpful in my business.

There are a multitude of ways to obtain great deals on properties that are off market (not found on the MLS). Expand your thinking on ways of obtaining properties and you will see that the MLS is only one of many sources of properties. While the MLS is usually the most competitive places to find properties, many of the other methods are detailed in the BP podcasts and thoroughly discussed in the forums and blogs available to you right here on BP. Just keep listening, taking notes and reading and you'll find there is hope for, and in many cases better opportunities, finding properties that aren't on the MLS.