Rank your top 5 marketing techniques for finding distressed sellers

[Sage Jankowitz]

There isn't a "golden rule" to finding hundreds of distressed sellers annually, but there are a handful of ways that will net you a few deals every year.

My question is, if you had to rank your top 5 MOST EFFICIENT methods, what would your list look like? Here's a list of some methods I've found through BP/networking/Ryan Webber/various readings, but please feel free to add more and rank your top 5 based on your local market.

NOTE: (I've put RW next to any marketing techniques I've found through Ryan Webber's posts on BP)

-bandit signs
-flyers
-yellow letter campaigns
-HUDs and REOs
-tons of bids on the MLS every week (RW)
-foreclosure auctions
-walk the streets
-offer referral fees to utility workers, pizza guys, and other locals in the community
-county clerks office for tax rolls/lis pendens/liens (RW)
-obituaries (RW)
-connect with divorce lawyers/bankruptcy lawyers
-postcards
-connect with burnt out landlords and out of state landlords
-bail bondsmen
-estate sales
-probate/trustees
-advertise in newspaper/local newsletters/billboards/bus stops

I have spent the last month building my buyers list as big as I can. I currently have 35 cash investors after my first month. I'm going to Israel this coming week and I look to implement 3-4 techniques in my farm area immediately upon my return...

[Jason S.]

Originally posted by Sage Jankowitz:

Flyers have been a waste of time and I'll never do those again.

I would be interested in what methods you utilized the flyers that did not work.. Thanks.