Help me understand bird dogging....

[Chris Coughlan]

My interpretation of bird dogging is finding below market value properties and then presenting them to wholesalers who then flip/rehab the property. The bird dogger charges a flat-rate commission or a % of the sale price to the wholesaler as a "finders fee".

I just got off the phone with a friend who is a real estate broker in my town. She explained to me that taking any type of commission on a real estate transaction requires a license.

Is this true? Do you need a brokers license to be involved in this type of transaction? Does this vary state to state?

What kind of contracts/agreements are used by bird doggers to be able to transfer to the wholesaler at the closing?

Thanks

[Caesar Valle]

From what I understand, and I'm still learning as well so correct me if I'm wrong. A bird dog is someone who like you said finds profitable properties for wholesaler/investors and they are paid if the buyer closes on the deal. Typically a flat-rate that they have already aggreed upon somewhere between 500-whatever reasonable. Theres always that question how do I know if I will get paid. I'm sure theres forms for that type of stuff that an attorney can draw you up and I'm pretty sure theres a form on this website too. Your check doesn't come out of closing it comes from the investor/buyer. And no you do not need a license. You are not involved in the closing as a birddog. The idea is that if the investor values your relationship in providing him profitable properties than he'll defianately want to pay you to keep you bringing him deals.

Here's a contract on BP for birddogging. Remember to get it reviewed by an attorney in your state before using it.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forms/bird-dog-agreement.pdf

Heres a link that I was checking out a while ago it really helped me.

http://forums.biggerpockets.com/viewtopic.php?t=3810

-Caesar