Most Effective Deal Sourcing Strategies?

[Zander Kempf]

There are a wide variety of ways of finding distressed sellers. I have tried a bit of DMM, yard signs, social media etc. I used to search the MLS for deals but the competition just bids the prices up far too high nowadays. What methods have you found to be the most effective for finding distressed sellers?

(I am in the Phoenix market but would love to hear about anywhere)

[Ellis San Jose]

Targeting very specific niches, title issues, missing owners etc.

Direct mail, phone call, door knock