All Forum Posts by: Brian Baker

I've tried a variety of methods over the past years...  direct mail, craigslist, bandit signs, car magnets, driving for dollars, cinema ads, etc.  And the best method that I've found is online ads, via Google and Facebook.  They require a lot less work to setup and are much more effective when done right; and then sellers come to you instead of you chasing them.  With online ads, a website, and a CRM, I've built a system where I respond to motivated sellers instantly and send out real offers in 30 minutes or less.  And they're searching online for guys like me!  With other forms of ads, the process of getting your foot in the door takes much longer.  And yet, I know a guy who prefers dropping bandit signs because he likes getting outdoors and travelling around town.

It always comes down to knowing exactly what you want, who has it, and where it is...  My ads target the regions I want to buy in and the type of person I'm looking for, and my ads speak to them in their language...  Know what you want for leads and for yourself, and you'll find the best way to make it happen for you!

I'm based out of Orlando, and I do a lot of investing over in Pasco. I highly recommend you attend your local REIA (Real Estate Investment Association) meeting to network and get to know your local, reputable wholesalers. Also, while driving around town, call any of the "We Buy Houses" type signs you see, and check Craigslist for similar posts (they're usually placed by wholesalers or other local investors who know wholesalers).

Good luck and happy investing!

First, everyone who responded to this post has great answers.  Here's my two cents...

Question 1:  Who's heard of those deals where the seller had 20 other mailers on the table and they just happened to like the person's mailer they called?  I hear about that all the time...

Question 2:  When you need a solution, are seeking information, or want to buy a product, where do you go first?  Do you look in your mailbox, or go look for a sign on the road?  Of course not!  You go online first!  Everybody does!!  And that's why PPC and SEO strategies are becoming so much more effective these days.  Ask yourself, of all the direct mail you receive in your own mailbox every week, how much of it do you actually read?  Now compare that to how many times your searched Google and read those answers...  PPC ads are only clicked on by people interested in the ad, whereas mailer go to people who may have no interest at all.  You only pay for PPC ads that are clicked on, whereas you pay for all mailers sent, regardless of interest.

I've been running online ads (PPC) for 4 years now and I can tell you it works.  And it doesn't have to take you much time, unless you want to have full control of every aspect of it yourself.  There are plenty of companies out there that will do PPC ads for you, per your criteria and specificiations.  There are even those that specialize in ads for real estate leads.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE TECHY TO RUN ONLINE ADS.  You just have to be business-minded...  And, IF IT MAKES YOU MONEY (and it's legal, of course), IT'S WORTH THE COST OF WHATEVER IT IS.

I formed an LLC a couple years ago that runs online ads for investors, agents, managers, etc. If you'd like more information about, feel free to message me.

Good luck and happy investing!

Hey David, I'm in the Orlando region and I invest across Central Florida, including Tampa.  There are much better deals out there than this.  Though this is definitely a seller's market, we still have people seeking us out to sell their properties to us at discount because they are in dire straits.  Listed properties are not the way to go right now if you want a good deal.  As they say in investing, when you see everyone run one direction (aka, multiple offers), its time to run in the opposite.  Get your marketing in order, know exactly what you want, and you will find better deals.

Hi, Michael!  Local REIAs (Real Estate Investment Associations) are a great place to meet local investors in person, network, and find great opportunities!  I recommend Central Florida Realty Investors (CFRI) as they cover your region plus several surrounding areas.

Feel free to reach out to me directly if you'd like more information.

Good luck, and happy investing!

Hey Sean, welcome to BP!  The best tip I can give you is that the more  details you know about exactly what you're looking for and what type of properties you want, who lives there, etc., the easier it will be to find them and get them funded.

My favorite source of funding for down payments and rehab costs is cash credit line funding.  I usually combine that with hard and private money for purchase of our properties.

Good luck out there, Sean, and happy investing!

Hi, Debbie, and welcome to BP! I recommend finding and joining the local Florida REIA (Real Estate Investors Association) for the location(s) you're interested in. Both BP and REIAs are great places for beginners to learn a lot about investing. Plus, the local REIA is a wealth of in-depth knowledge of local cities, markets, rental rates, etc.

I always remind our REIA members that successful investing (including finding your dream vacation/rental home) always comes down to three main things:

1) knowing what you want,

2) having a great reason for wanting it,

3) and then letting everyone know both of those!

You can't search for a property efficiently unless you know what you want. You won't take the effective actions necessary to get it unless you know exactly why you want it. And, unless you advertise and tell everyone what you're looking for, you may never find it!

Good luck, and happy investing!

Hi, Giancarlo, and welcome to BP! I recommend finding and joining your local REIA (Real Estate Investors Association). There you'll find a bunch of like-minded investors with great tips, education, and even mentorship opportunities! I highly recommend starting there!

Good luck, and happy investing!

Welcome to BP, Brandon.  Have you thought about trying business credit funding instead of private or hard money?  It's a great way to get huge working capital fast, at very low interest rates, and to continue to do so well into your investing future.  Of course, as with all lending sources, always run your numbers first and make sure it works for you!  If you have any questions, feel free to message me.

Good luck, and hapoy investing!

Hey Kevin, welcome to BP! If you haven't joined your local REIA (real estate investment association) yet, I recommend you do so... It's a great place to buy and sell property, get education on advanced strategies, and network with like-minded people!

Good luck and happy investing!