Find Real Estate Deals

The best way in which to locate deals in the current market is to make contacts with realtors who list for banks.  Chasing banks to negotiate short sales in cooperation with the owners is a huge resource buster.  We have chased banks in the past and typically find it to be a  long and painful process.  On the other hand, if a realtor is a listing agent for a bank and the bank is already in ownership of the property, it is a completely different story.

They are in need of true investors. Investors who can close quickly and show proof of funds can greatly expedite the process (we have gone from contract to closing on property in as little as 5 days with title insurance) and are a true asset to both the bank and agent.  With a few quick closings the bank will list more property with that agent and that agent will be calling you when new listing arrive.

How to find the right realtor in your area.  
                                                  
Florida, query the county official records which can be found at the Clerk of Circuit Courts website in most counties.  Run query by: names of banks,  restrict by date (say last 45 days), restrict by document type (deed), restrict by party (grantee).  What will be returned are those conveyances to the bank within the last 45 days.  Take note of the legal desription of the properties returned. 

Go to the county Property Appraisers website.  Query the records by name of bank.  Match up the legal description of the property.  When you locate the right property you will have the address.  Go to zillow or realtor.com and run a search by zip code or street name.  When you locate the home found with the same address you can contact the listing agent.
                                                  
I know this sounds like a lot of hunting just to find the listing agent, but with a few minutes of research you can sidestep a lot of realtors and align yourself with those who have the greatest potential for bringing deals to you.
                                                  
A bank will typically have a call list of local realtors they use.  The reason more realtors aren't involved in bank listings is that there are out of pocket expenses which are reimbursed to the realtor upon closing such as lock changing and property clean up-depends on contract.  The upfront cost to the realtor can be $600 which may take months to get back.  
                                                  
We have in the past been able to go directly to the bank, prior to a property being listed, pitch our offer and if accepted forward a cashiers check to the bank with closing within a few days.  This is no longer the normal method of business, as we have been told by those banks which we have dealt with in prior years.