Automatic alerts to find off market properties

[Deville Nunes]

I'm posting this on BiggerPockets so I can get some advice on a chapter from my book. Here's a section on setting up automatic alerts. I'd love to hear your thoughts—let me know if there's anything I should change or add to improve it.    

Setting Up Automated Alerts for Real Estate Deals

Setting up automated alerts across multiple platforms, including MLS, investor-specific sites, and off-market deal sources, ensures you never miss an opportunity.

1. Define Your Property Criteria (Be Specific)

Before setting alerts, narrow down your criteria so you receive relevant notifications. Key filters to set:

• Location: City, zip code, or specific neighborhoods
• Property Type: Single-family, multifamily (duplex, triplex, fourplex), commercial, land, etc.
• Price Range: Minimum and maximum budget
• Rental Income (for Investors): Minimum acceptable rent for cash flow deals
• Cap Rate / Cash-on-Cash Return (if available)
• BRRRR Strategy: Look for distressed properties.
• Foreclosures, Pre-Foreclosures, Auctions (if applicable)
• Days on Market: Target listings sitting for 60, 90, or 120+ days for motivated sellers
• Keyword Search: Terms like “motivated seller,” “needs TLC,” “fixer-upper,” “as-is,” or “must sell”

Once you define your criteria, set alerts across multiple platforms to maximize deal flow.

2. MLS Alerts (Fastest & Most Accurate)

If you have access to MLS (via an agent or direct connection), this is the best way to get new listings first.

How to set up:

• Ask your real estate agent to set up a custom MLS search based on your criteria.
• Choose to receive instant alerts when new listings match your search.
• Adjust filters for price drops, new listings, and back-on-market properties.
• Pro Tip: Some MLS systems allow access to "Coming Soon" listings, giving you a head start before they hit the market.

3. Zillow Alerts (Largest Public Listing Platform)

Zillow is widely used, though updates may lag behind MLS.

How to set up:

• Sign in or create an account at Zillow.com
• Enter search criteria (city, zip code, or neighborhood).
• Click “Save Search” and turn on email notifications.
• Set alert frequency to Instant, Daily, or Weekly (choose Instant for fast-moving markets).
• Pro Tip: Use Zillow’s Price Cut Filter and Keyword Filter (e.g., “motivated seller,” “as-is”) to target distressed properties.

4. Redfin Alerts (Faster Than Zillow in Some Markets)

Redfin updates more frequently than Zillow.

How to set up:

• Sign in at Redfin.com
• Enter search criteria.
• Click “Save Search” and enable “Instant Updates.”
• Why Redfin? Updates every 5 minutes in some markets.
• “Hot Homes” feature alerts for properties likely to sell fast.

5. Realtor.com Alerts (Another MLS Alternative)

Realtor.com pulls directly from MLS and is often faster than Zillow.

How to set up:

• Sign in at Realtor.com
• Enter search criteria.
• Click “Save Search” and enable alerts.
• Pro Tip: Realtor.com shows price history, helping identify motivated sellers.

6. Foreclosures & Auction Sites (Distressed Deals)

Use these sites to get alerts on foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, and auctions:

• Foreclosure.com
• Auction.com
• Hubzu.com
• HUDHomeStore.gov
• Pro Tip: Some foreclosures don't appear on MLS right away. These platforms help you find them first.

7. Off-Market & Wholesale Deals (Investor Advantage)

Most off-market properties aren’t listed on Zillow or Redfin. Use these platforms:

• InvestorLift
• PropStream
• BatchLeads
• Craigslist & Facebook Marketplace: Search “house for sale by owner,” “must sell,” “fixer-upper.”
• Pro Tip: Use services like ListSource, DealMachine, or REIPro to pull motivated seller lists for direct mail and cold calling.

8. Landlord-Friendly & Appreciation Market Alerts

For long-term rental investments, set alerts on:

• Mashvisor (Tracks cap rates, rental demand, appreciation trends.)
• Roofstock (Alerts for tenant-occupied rental properties.)
• NeighborhoodScout (Reports on rental demand & appreciation.)

9. Craigslist & Facebook Alerts (Hidden Deals)

• Craigslist: Set alerts for “For Sale By Owner” listings in your area.
• Facebook Marketplace & Groups: Join real estate investor groups and set alerts for new posts.

10. Direct Alerts from Local Realtors & Wholesalers

• Build relationships with real estate agents in target markets.
• Connect with wholesalers who send off-market deals via email.
• Network with property managers—they often know landlords selling off-market.

Final Pro Tips to Stay Ahead

• Use multiple platforms – Don’t rely on just Zillow or Redfin.
• Check alerts daily – The best deals go fast.
• Use multiple emails – If investing in multiple markets, create different alerts.
• Act Fast – Be ready to submit offers immediately.
• Network & Build Relationships – Many of the best deals never hit the market.
• Consider Automated Scraping Tools – Services like DealMachine, Privy, or Market-specific APIs can automate the search process.

Websites for Real Estate Alerts

General Residential (Buy + Rent + Alerts)

1. Zillow – Set alerts for homes, price changes, and rentals. Includes “Zestimate” valuations and owner info.
   
   
2. Redfin – Real-time MLS data and alerts with strong analytics and interactive maps.
   
   
3. Realtor.com – Official NAR site with new listing and price drop alerts from MLS feeds.
   
   
4. Trulia – Neighborhood lifestyle data + search alerts; great for filtering by quality-of-life metrics.
   
   
5. Homes.com – MLS and non-MLS property alerts with good search filters.
   
   
6. Movoto – Custom alerts and neighborhood insights from MLS-based listings.
   
   
7. Point2Homes – Alerts for domestic and international listings; often includes lesser-seen inventory.
   
   
8. HomeFinder – Alerts for homes and rentals, though less commonly used.
   
   
9. FindMyRoof – Basic, lesser-known site that still offers alerts for for-sale properties.
   
   

🏢 Commercial / Investment Specific (With Alerts)

1. LoopNet – Commercial real estate alerts by asset type, location, and pricing metrics.
   
   
2. CREXi – Investor-focused commercial platform with alerts for cap rate, occupancy, and asset class.
   
   
3. PropertyShark – Data-rich site with alerts for pre-foreclosures, ownership changes, and property profiles.
   
   
4. CoStar – Paid access; best for serious commercial investors. Tracks ownership, comps, and activity with alerts.
   
   
5. CityFeet – LoopNet’s sibling, focused on commercial listings with email alerts.
   
   
6. Reonomy – Paid platform for off-market commercial intel + alert setup by custom filters.
   
   
7. Ten-X Commercial – Auction-focused commercial platform with investor alerts and due diligence packages.
   
   
8. Real Capital Markets – Alerts for institutional-grade commercial listings.
   
   

🏚️ Foreclosures / Auctions (With Alerts)

1. Foreclosure.com – Get alerts on foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, and tax lien properties nationwide.
   
   
2. RealtyTrac – Alerts for bank-owned, auction, and foreclosure listings, with market trend tools.
   
   
3. Auction.com – Top auction platform; alerts for upcoming foreclosure and REO sales.
   
   
4. Hubzu – Alerts for REOs and short sale auctions, many with no buyer’s agent required.
   
   
5. HomePath (Fannie Mae) – Government-owned listings; alerts for newly available homes.
   
   
6. HUD Home Store – Alerts for HUD properties, often discounted and eligible for FHA loans.
   
   
7. ********** – Online auction platform for distressed public and private properties.
   
   
8. Xome Auctions – MLS + auction blend; alerts for homes headed to auction.
   
   

💼 Investor-Specific Platforms (Alerts + Data)

1. BiggerPockets – Set alerts on the Marketplace and forums, plus deal calculators and networking.
   
   
2. DealMachine – Driving for dollars app with alerts for follow-ups, ownership changes, and lead tagging.
   
   
3. Roofstock – Alerts for turnkey, tenant-occupied single-family rentals with yield and cash flow metrics.
   
   

🌾 Land-Specific (With Alerts)

1. LandWatch – Alerts for land by use (e.g. residential, hunting, timber); great filters.
   
   
2. Land and Farm – Similar to LandWatch; ideal for agricultural, rural, and raw land.
   
   

🤏 Niche or Strategy-Specific (Use If Applicable)

1. FSBO.com – Alerts for new for-sale-by-owner listings; often off-market or underpriced.
   
   
2. Rent to Own Labs – Niche site for lease-option or rent-to-own deals.
   
   
3. Oodle – Classified-style site that may reveal FSBO or under-the-radar deals.
   
   
4. Buildium – Primarily a property manager tool, but sometimes useful for finding rental listings.
   
   
5. LoopLender – For financing commercial deals found on LoopNet; includes deal alerting features.

These websites provide a variety of tools and data that can help you find real estate opportunities efficiently.

Conclusion

By setting up automatic alerts on these websites, you can streamline your search process, save time, and increase your chances of finding profitable real estate investments. Always stay updated with your alerts and refine your criteria based on market trends and your investment goals. This proactive approach will help you stay ahead in the competitive real estate market and secure the best deals available.