Hi everyone, I'm learning real estate hands on by doing bird dogging. I have some investors already willing to work with me so I have that step down, but now I'm stuck and what to do now. How do I find these deals that are off market, what kind of homes should. I target and what are the best ways to find them? Also if they are vacant homes, absentee owner, or something else like that, how would you get in contact with the owner? When I do find these properties and the owners, what should I say to the owner for marketing myself? And overall how would I start out with bird dogging, and how much does it cost for marketing and everything? Please help me, as I'm trying to make a good name for myself, thanks, Also if any of you would like to talk some more please pm me as well, I'd really appreciate your help!

Lots of activity on the phones, lots of research will bring you results eventually.

This can be debated - but I think you can get your real estate license.  Sometimes you'll find opportunities that you can list, and make money.

Often times the investor(s) that you are bird dogging for will give you clear directions that will answer these questions.

@Roland Paicely @Brian Ploszay I already know what I'm looking for for the investors, but I'm having trouble finding these off market deals, and when I do find these deals I can't find out where the owner is. Can you guys help me out? Thanks!

Hey there, I'm also in the process of Driving for Deals in Seattle and understand your confusion.

Checkout this helpful article https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/05/0...

I don't think there is a part 2 to this so don't waste time looking.

@Jonathan McKinley thanks! I wouldn't prefer to do this way because I don't drive yet, but I will keep an eye out when I'm traveling anyways. Also when you do find these properties, how do you find the owners to these vacant properties, absentee owners, etc.

I Would find a way to locate the county tax records for the properties your looking at. On the record, you'll see if the owner has an out of the area mailing address. That usually points to an absentee owner. 

ok thanks @Jonathan McKinley

Just be very aware that in good flip markets like where I am out in Seattle, you're going into a completely saturated market. The absentee owners I know that have property in Seattle get absolutely BOMBARDED by calls, postcards, etc., from flippers, bird dogs, agents, developers, and you name it. My folks have a single rental house in Seattle and they have a stack of mailers in the mailbox every week. I'm even getting contacted sometimes because I'm their son and I'm the only phone number they can find! 

I'm starting to get a bunch of mailers for my properties in Ohio now, which is not a saturated market. That said, the quality of this marketing material is insanely low, so it wouldn't be hard to do better than the rest. Not that it will get you the results you seek, however. Point being, I'd avoid spending money on mailers until you've got a big bankroll. And don't be like everyone else. But learn about your competition.

In my opinion, there are a lot better ways to learn real estate than bird dogging. I'd find some flippers and shadow them on their projects. And on a potentially more helpful note, you might go around to the tax foreclosure auctions to make some contacts and offer to scout auction properties.

Since many of them go off the market right up until the auction day, you might get on good terms with some flippers that don't have the time/energy to scope out the deals themselves. 

What should you say to the owner, you ask? If I was in your shoes I'd ask the owners if and how you can grow their investment business. That's called adding value, and I've yet to hear of a single bird dog actually give a crap about what the owner wants. They might sell you the property and go do a 1031 for all you know. 

Thanks @Ryan Evans that's a great idea, I am doing the shadowing part for this investor near me when I find him a property that's off market he will let me shadow him. And I'm doing regular bird dogging for some other investors that are further away. The only reason I'm just doing this is because I'm 14 and I can't do anything else because I can't sign contracts.

@Michael Kantar well good on ya for being on it early! Bummer you've got another 4 years before some of your options open up, but you're on a good track for now it sounds like. 

I'm not informed on the employment laws for 14 & 15-year-olds, but I do know there are varying circumstances which you can work in different types of businesses. I'd see about getting a part-time job/internship in some sort of property management related role. Just being in that environment will teach you a ton and you'll have all the networks in place to make some big stuff happen when the time comes. 

@Ryan Evans trust me I try to get internships at some places but nobody ever responds to me, probably since I'm so young. Do you have any tips for me to use?