Welcome back!

Want more articles like this?

Create an account today to get BiggerPocket's best blog articles delivered to your inbox

Sign up for free

At least once a week this question is emailed to me from newer investors trying to wrap their heads around real estate and mobile home investing. In the start of my career I too asked these same questions about the need for us if buyers and sellers are actively looking for each other.

The answers I received in the past were less than suitable to me; however, over the past decade I have come to learn different reasons for our true need in most markets.

Related: 12 Simple Tips For Beginner Real Estate Investors

Let’s look at each part of this two-part question.

Can’t Sellers And Buyers Just Work Out A Win-Win Deal Between Themselves?

Yes, of course they can, but how realistic is this?

Real estate investors choose to become experts in real estate investing strategies in order to help sellers sell and ideally save a seller's credit.

Conversely, non-investor-buyers have their own areas of expertise (i.e. doctors, mechanics, etc). Many non-investors simply do not look at real estate as an investment tool. Many sellers and buyers will simply prefer to react to your advertising and ability to help them quickly. Until this mind-set in non-investors changes, there will be a need for us investors to help.

In reality many investors begin investing with little money, less-than-perfect credit and only moderately educated about real estate investing. When I first began helping sellers and buyers I had less real estate experience and education than most regular single-family homeowners. In my career it is only because I cared about sellers and buyers and took daily action that I was able to make a career and name for myself in my mobile home investing market.

Over the years investing, I have made countless mistakes and errors throughout the investing journey along the way. Additionally, during this time I have created tremendous value helping many sellers and buyers finding, holding and selling homes.

Investors are busy daily changing lives and their local real estate markets everyday.

Are Real Estate Investors Necessary?

Yes, in many cases investors may be needed. In almost every real estate transaction, investors bring more than just a signature to the closing table.

Investors can help motivated sellers by:

• Closing quickly or on a specific date
• Bringing cash or other financing to the closing table
• Being more flexible with purchase terms than traditional buyers
• Bringing clarity to a seller
• Giving sellers more options than ever thought possible
• Helping where no other options seem to be available
• And in countless other ways

Many times when we investors approach sellers we are first here to listen to a seller’s situation and wants, then to educate the seller to their selling options. After this we can ideally present a plethora of methods, prices, terms and strategies to purchase almost any seller’s property.

Related: Why Real Estate Investors Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Ask In Spite Of a Likely No

Conclusion

An end user that will be living in the subject home will almost always pay more for a property than an investor will pay. In short if a seller can sell for more money to an end user, then great for the seller. However, sometimes you will find you are one of the only buyers willing to help a seller and actually pull the trigger on the property.

As a real estate investor, what value do you feel you bring to the market?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!