Bird-dogger · San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 13 posts · 1 vote
I am looking to begin birddogging in San Diego CA. I am a flyer distributor walking door 2 door all over San Diego county. I find distressed properties all the time and am looking for buyers. My question is if there is any illegality on my part. Do I NEED to have some kind of licensing to do this for a finders fee? i am not yet ready to get into the paperwork/hassle of wholesaling etc.
That said, I know several bird-doggers that find investor/buyers through local REIA groups or simply post an add that they want a finder's fee to locate deals. Investors gladly pay for great leads whether they are true wholesale deals where you have the property under contract or if you have simply located a motivated seller and negotiated a great potential selling price. You will probably only get paid when deals close so keep track of all your leads and find investors you can trust not to go around you.
Real estate agents would have to abide by different rules which tie all compensation related to real estate through their broker.
Bird dogging isn't illegal. It is a great way to sniff out deals for your investor buyers. I am in escrow now on a deal a bird dog found and I paid him $5K. Owner occupied, beat up house, but she's letting me take the property subject to her loans so it is going to be a great rental for me.
Thank you Jeremy, Douglass and Aaron for your help. @Aaron Mazzrillo, those are my attempt at using keywords to attract respondents; did I do it right?
I am looking to begin birddogging in San Diego CA. I am a flyer distributor walking door 2 door all over San Diego county. I find distressed properties all the time and am looking for buyers. My question is if there is any illegality on my part. Do I NEED to have some kind of licensing to do this for a finders fee? i am not yet ready to get into the paperwork/hassle of wholesaling etc.