How should I spend my tax return to get a first deal?

[Adrian Valdez]

Hey,

Taxes are coming soon and i figured this is probably a good way to have a decent chunk of change to hopefully to get me my first deal. I'm in New Jersey I am assuming i will have around a grand (maybe a couple hundred more) to use. Should I buy lists and maybe use a direct mail service to find potential deals? I've heard that the market nationally is really stacked so has the mentality of find the deal and the money will come died? 

2016 has been a pretty good year for me but... I want 2017 to be an even better one. 

Thank you for any advice given your words are extremely appreciated. 

[Todd Fox]

Adrian Valdez please do NOT spend you money on a list! Canvas your neighborhood or areas of interest, for potential deals. Find properties that seem more run down and go knock on their door and tell them you are interested in buying. It may sound crazy to think that this works but I promise you it does! My second property ever I just knocked on the persons door and asked if the guy was interested in selling the vacant lot across the street that he owned. He said "yes but only if you're willing to purchase my house too". I asked if I could come in and look around. Within an hour I asked what he wanted for the property and he told me $260,000. The house was worth $350,000 so the next day I had it under contract. When you don't have a lot to start off with, you gotta hustle harder then everyone else but if you do the right things it will surely pay off.

And please do NOT start spending your time flipping junk on eBay. Your time is valuable so spending it learning real estate.