If you want less competition you will need to get property that is more distressed (and you will still have to pay up over the flippers who want those), or you will need to search when no one else is searching.....ie both of my SD properties were purchased between Thanksgiving and Christmas (when everyone else is celebrating you need to put in offers).   

The challenge is knowing if the listing agent actually tells your offer to the seller or not.For example, if a distressed property is $650k and you want to offer $620k, the listing agent says the lowest the seller may accept is $645k, but is that actually true or made up because the listing agent wants their commission?

I am still here though and still learning on how to find the homeowner in distress.

Sellers should also be open to alternative negotiations and market timing to maximize property value in shifting market conditions.Buyer Strategies: Buyers should explore off-market properties, distressed assets, and opportunities in gentrifying areas.

Our business plan actually includes rehabbing distressed properties and conducting off-market transactions with owners currently occupying distressed properties using equity to reduce the out of pocket costs for the seller/buyer and to simplify the process.

Couple that with the fact that you're buying somewhat distressed properties and you can easily find yourself in a difficult situation. 

Quote from @Christine Gordon: Quote from @Roi Azoulay: This firm is known to advertise fake distressed properties all over NY and reach out the the actual owner w/attempt to get listing agreement, Unfortunately they are still active and keep doing this for many years and no other website/mls does anything about it. 

I am interested in investing in Texas, specifically Tax Deeds and distressed properties.  

That is what is meant by slow flip except generally you will use borrowed funds to buy distressed property and sell for more with financing--similar to what some used car dealers do but with an appreciating asset instead.

As someone focused on wholesaling and sourcing distressed properties both on-market and off-market I’m always looking to align with investors, agents, and other fix-and-flippers who are actively in the game.