Where and how to find motivated sellers?

[Todd Hensy]

I have never flipped a house in my life. However, through years of intense study of how to flip houses -- I have yet to find an ideal motivated seller. The term "motivated seller" is so broad that it includes mostly real estate investors trying to sell a 20k house they bought for 10k to make a quick buck or some dilapidated house that needs 40k in repairs. I do not want to buy properties from other real estate investors.

I have been to craigslist, byowner.com, redfin.com, just about all markets. If this was so easy 280 million people would be flipping houses and not working 9-5 jobs.

Where and how can I find a typical person wanting to sell their house at a discount due to divorce, death or just wanting out of their mortgage? I NEED LEADS.

 I just want to score my first deal---whenever that will happen.

[Dev Horn]

As you found, you can study and learn, but that does not generate any BUSINESS for you.  And this is a business.  So you need to do what any other business does - spend advertising dollars to find the right prospects.  We do this with:

1) Google Search (AdWords)
2) Direct Mail
3) Outdoor (billboards to bandit signs)
4) TV spots

So, you'll need a marketing budget for 6 to 12 months to get started in this business.  Without it, you will be one of thousands of people who would love to make $ from real estate but have not yet invested $ in marketing.

We market to people with messaging such as "Has your HOUSE become a HEADACHE?" etc.  You need to talk directly to your prospects in your marketing so the right people can respond to it.  Right now, there are motivated sellers in Dublin, OH.  They are being found by the guys who are paying to find them...

I wish you the best!

"The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time." ~ Thomas Jefferson