Using Agents

[Steven Turner]

I have been using agents to make offers on the mls. I am wondering if anyone else uses agents and what kind of success they have had verses going after off market deals? Should I focus more on off market deals? I am just starting out, not much capitol, and need to close a deal asap to be able to use other marketing techniques.

[Dev Horn]

The problem is, any "deal" you see on the MLS is seen by 1,000 other people. And the last buyer an agent wants to work with is someone who just wants to bomb listings with low-ball, not-a-chance-in-h*ll offers.

If you want to buy distressed properties from motivated sellers at steep discounts which allow for a profit to be made, you pretty much have to go off market. Sure, I've gotten a couple of deals off the MLS over the years, but the bulk of your deals will come from off-market opportunities - mostly found via paid marketing aimed directly at the home sellers (direct mail, Google AdWords, signs, etc.).