Hi - I am new obviously, but have been putting in my time researching, reading, learning, etc.
Anyone have any advice on how to find the best off market deals? I have joined numerous Facebook groups and connected with a few wholesalers. Is it best to partner with real estate agents?
Also, I consistently look at zillow (or similar sites) for properties just sitting on the market, motivated sellers, etc. When analyzing most these deals none seem to make sense at all financially. Im not looking for much cashflow day 1, but a buy and hold strategy for 5 plus years (as well as continuing this model to gain a few properties into my overall investment portfolio).
Fyi I am ideally looking in boca raton, deerfield, pompano or somewhere adjacent. Either single family, duplex or triplex.
Thanks and if anyone has any good connections or would like to connect let me know.
@Amanda Moskowitz You've already got a good plan and have received good suggestions for reaching more sellers, so I won't add to that, but I will address your concern regarding deals not making sense.
Ignore the asking prices. Work backwards starting with how much income the property can realistically generate to figure out how much you can pay. Now you know your maximum. But don't offer that! TALK to the seller, find out what they need, find out what they're willing to do, and keep any open mind to creative solutions. You don't always need to pay their asking price with 20% down and a 7% mortgage.
30% of sellers are willing to offer seller financing if you ask. I buy everything with $0 down and 0% interest, just for asking what's most important to the seller.
Amanda, you’re definitely on the right path—off-market deals usually come from direct-to-seller outreach (mailers, cold calls, driving for dollars) and building relationships with investor-friendly agents who get pocket listings before they hit the market. Since you’re focused on buy-and-hold, it’s worth noting that a lot of investors also look toward the Midwest for stronger cash flow and lower entry costs while keeping appreciation plays in markets like South Florida. That mix can really balance out a portfolio over the long run.
If you have a specific target the absolute best way is doing mailers. You tube golden letters and start sending them out. If you send out 2 or 3k letters you WILL get some good leads. Its also smart to work with a realtor, since some of the leads you get you can referrer to a realtor once you determine they are dead leads.
Welcome, Amanda! Sounds like you’re putting in the right groundwork. For off-market deals, your current approach is solid: wholesalers, Facebook groups, and digging through stale listings can all work. But to level up, you might want to build direct-to-seller pipelines—think driving for dollars, mailers, or using tools like PropStream or DealMachine to identify owners with equity or signs of distress.
Partnering with the right agent can help, especially one who knows investors and works in Boca, Deerfield, or Pompano. Some agents have early access to deals before they hit MLS.
@Amanda Moskowitz You've already got a good plan and have received good suggestions for reaching more sellers, so I won't add to that, but I will address your concern regarding deals not making sense.
Ignore the asking prices. Work backwards starting with how much income the property can realistically generate to figure out how much you can pay. Now you know your maximum. But don't offer that! TALK to the seller, find out what they need, find out what they're willing to do, and keep any open mind to creative solutions. You don't always need to pay their asking price with 20% down and a 7% mortgage.
30% of sellers are willing to offer seller financing if you ask. I buy everything with $0 down and 0% interest, just for asking what's most important to the seller.