How to Find a Realtor with Investor Connections & Off-Market Deals?

[Nageswar Nara]

Hey everyone,

I’m selling my condo in the South Bay (San Francisco area) at a loss, so I need a realtor who can maximize the sale price using creative strategies. I’m also buying a single-family home in the East Bay (Fremont or Tri-Valley) and would love to find off-market deals.

I need a realtor with strong investor connections—someone who works with 1031 Exchange buyers (to sell my condo fast) and has access to off-market homes in Fremont/Tri-Valley.

My Questions:

• Since I’m selling at a loss and the agent would be handling both my condo sale and my next home purchase, how should I negotiate a better commission structure? Has anyone successfully asked for a discount in this situation?

• Can we do shorter contracts (30 days instead of 90+)? Locking into a long contract without seeing results seems risky.

• How do you find a realtor who specializes in off-market deals & investor buyers?

• What questions do you ask to see if they have an investor network?

• Any red flags to avoid when choosing a realtor?

• What creative strategies have you seen realtors use to maximize the selling price on a loss sale?

• What else should I ask to make sure they are the right fit?

Looking for advice from investors who have worked with agents who think outside the box. Thanks in advance!