Getting started with finding seller financing?

[Alex Tsor]

I just intro-ed myself yesterday and the DMs went crazy thank you y'all!  Here is the context: I'm an investor out in California and have $30k to get started. The goal is to build a rental portfolio overtime. Folks have suggested finding seller financing so to that end, I will have to go out there and hunt for deals. The $30k should basically be going towards the property, so I don't have a lot left for whatever tooling. Here is what I have seen so far wondering what everyone else's experience has been with them.

1. PropStream + Excel Sheet:  $199/mo basically seems like the smallest plan to include phone numbers. I can dial from my personal cell, seems like a good starting point, but I am concerned I might not be able to keep track of all the dials I am making?
2. XLeads + Go High Level: $97 + $97 = $194/mo. I'm pretty sure XLeads also have skip tracing, but I heard the quality is not as good? And Go High level seems like a CRM most folks use.
3. Goliath Data: $99 or $299/mo - It could be the cheapest or the most expensive option. Seems like it has owner data and CRM built in for both plans. It definitely looks the best, but I am not sure if the $299 to have an AI pick up missed calls or have an AI receptionist is worth it or not.

I want to find my first creative financing deal Ideally in Fresno CA before March of next year. I want to save as much money as possible while making sure I have the tooling necessary to reach that goal. What would you guys do?

[Jeff Zimmerman]

whats up Alex. I like what Nicholas said about wanting to be well capitalized starting out. You can look for a creative financing deal but $30k may not be enough to do seller financing. It would probably be enough to do a lease option where you can agree on a price and a future purchase date, 1-5 years out. Then lease the property with a NNN type lease from the seller at a below market rate so that you can rent it to someone else (or be the tenant yourself and rent out your current primary). Then when you go to purchase the property in a few years the price will likely be way under market value, because you agreed to it early on.

And, if you are able to do it with a property that needs some love and repairs its a great opportunity for you get a low price on the purchase along with a low price for monthly rent due to condition.  Then when the purchase date comes you will be buying WAY under value due to the work you already put into the property.  That 30k will go a decent way in getting that property fixed up. 

and if you want to go the traditional route, $21k is enough for a down payment and closing costs for a conventional or FHA loan at either 3.5% down or 3% down if the purchase price is about $300,000. There would be easily $50-75k in potential equity after some work on a deal like that.

hopefully that all makes sense, good luck!