BiggerPockets

Need a little more info. Are these realtors representing you or not? How are they " stealing" your deals?

" There SHOULD be a law that you are either an Agent or an Investor, BUT NOT BOTH!"

This is capitalism. Competitive edge is part of this system and you either adapt or fail. It's nothing personal, it's just how it is.

Many agents are investors. Some are primarily investors, some act as both agents and also buy property for their own account. I am an investor first and only became an agent for access to the MLS.

You can do a few thing to combat this.

1) simply don't worry about it, it doesn't happen that often. And you can get scooped by a faster investor on any deal whether it is listed or they are an agent or not.

2) become an agent yourself. You will still loose out sometimes to faster agents.

3) Get set up with an agent to automatically email you llistings that meet your criteria. Then go see those and make offers as fast as possible.

4) Many deals are " listed and sold similtaneously" . In other words they were a " pocket listing" or the agent had a buyer in mind when it was listed. Build relationships with agents, especially agents that get investor deals like REO agents, so you get the call when a great deal comes in.

5) Forget about listed deals altogether. Some of the very best deals come from buying properties directly from owners.

By the way if that agent that bought the house; was representing you, showed you the house, and you showed interest in the house, then there already is a law against that. That agent has broken their fiduciary duty to you with a conflict of interest.

Good luck and good investing,