How Do You Identify, Track, and Market to Your Ideal Market Area?

[Nathan S.]

Hi BiggerPockets Community,

Curious to hear how the other wholesalers and flippers here identify the areas they work in and market to, in order to find deals. Here are a few questions below:

1. Do you focus on neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties, divorcees, absentee owners, probates, tax delinquencies, etc and why? 

2. What metrics, KPIs, techniques, relationships, and technology tools do you use to identify your desired market area, as well as the tools and strategies to market that same area? 

3. What has worked for you, and what have you found to be a waste of time, money, or both? 

4. Do you have a marketing budget? If so, how much did you start with and how much do you allocate toward that budget now(monthly or yearly)?

Look forward to your responses.