Realtor vs. Direct Mail Marketing

[Dan Shelhamer]

I have a great realtor who helped me find the home I currently reside in & love in only a couple months.  I have now reached out to her again to help me in the process of finding a foreclosure that would make a great cash-flowing rental property.  However, after all of the books I have read & research I have done, it seems that most investors do direct mail marketing.  My feeling is that by the time it is on Zillow, Redfin, etc. that it is already too late to get a great deal (as it has been seen by several investors already who clearly passed on it).  I feel that I need to get some postcards sent out to homes in my area, and start doing some work myself to truly get a great deal.  Do investor's primarily do the work themselves on finding those hidden gems?  What is your opinion on this? 

Thanks in advance!