How to get access to MLS listing

Question

Does anyone have any input to this subject? I know the traditional way is to go through an agent, but I was just wondering if there's any way around that as I do not have an agent to this point. I have sent out several emails to agents requesting their services, but no replies. I mentioned I was in the business of wholesaling and inquired if they have any experience with assigning contracts. No responses! Please help!

Jason Cummins · Answer

You can access the MLS throuh some local agents websites

also check out realtor.com

you can look up properties yourself, then call the listing agent if you are interested in the property

Account Closed · Answer

Bwetween now and the meeting:

Read voraciously the posts on BiggerPockets forums, especially Creative Financing, Starting Out, and General Real Estate Investing. If you start leaning toward a particular method or strategy, do a search for it on this site as well, and read everything about it. The idea is to knwo something about everything in general and alot about certain strategies.

If you haven't already, get to know a particular market area, such as a neighborhood that has "bread and butter" houses that would be good starter homes, low-crime. That can be your farm area. Go to open houses in this area, and meet some agents, saying you are a real estate investor and you like that area.

Get som cheap business cards. They are free with just the cost of shipping at www.vistaprint.com, and some other sites. You will want to exchange cards with alot of people.

Go to the meeting early. There will be some vendors if it is a big club, so you can always start talking with them and then venture over to the other investors, introduce yourself and exchange cards. You don't have to advertise how new you are, just be an interested investor. The investors are usually a friendly bunch, and alot of them will be new also. Just be yourself. Ask them about what they do, what deals they are working on, etc. people like to talk about themselves. Some clubs have a "haves and wants" session, where people get to pitch their listings or deals. They will usually give out their names and contact info. Write it down, and then call them back later and pick their brain or establish a relationship.You will probably find an agent at this meeting who will work with you on some basis.     Good luck!

Account Closed · Answer

Lang,
I understand your dilemma. I too would like to have more access to the MLS, and I have not found the perfect agent yet, but then I have only been doing unconventional deals, so, like the other guy said, why would they help? I am reluctant to ask anyone to work for nothing.  :lol:

If you really want to work with an agent, I would suggest joining your local real restate investors club. In the meetings in my area, there are tons of agents who are wanting to network with investors. These are the more investor savvy agents. You can talk to them and see if anyone would meet with you sometime for coffee and discuss the market. You don't have to necessarily say you are "only" a wholesaler. If they are investor savvy they will have put together a model where they can work with investors and make money, like working short sales, etc. You may be able to use them for when you buy one yourself and sell it retail. Some agents will "invest" some auto emails and reports for you and see if a win-win relationship develops. See what happens, good luck, Mike

M Lang · Answer

Thanks Mike!

I am just waiting for the next REIA meeting to take place. Aparrently, the day before I got into Wholesaling full steam was the day of the last meeting! I can't wait to get into the meeting and network.

Any tips as to what I should be saying to start off conversations with other members? I'm new so I don't really know how to approach seasoned real estate members.

Michael Dorgan · Answer

Honestly, why should an agent give you the time of day if you are a wholesaler?  You aren't going to use them to sell and probably won't use them to buy.  It's a waste of their time and yours.

Also, the MLS is probably a waste of your time as well.  Properties listed there are a full, retail price 99.999% of the time.  That one small percentage when they are not, there are hundreds of computer programs waiting to buy from deep pocket investors.

If you want the MLS just to get an idea of values, you cna get access to most listing through the net.  Just go to the various broker websites and you can look at everything listed, or go directly through mls.com (or loop.net).