How do you find cash buyers for your first wholesale deal?

Question

I’m working on my first wholesale transaction in Baton Rouge and I’m trying to understand how experienced investors build relationships with reliable cash buyers. What methods have worked best for you? Do you rely on networking, local REI groups, direct outreach, or something else? I’d appreciate any advice on building a strong buyers list.

Steven Osborne · Answer

We don't do it this anymore but:- Go to propsteam, batchleads, dealmachine or whatever you go that you buy your leads from.- download LLCs- go by hand and look who has an physical commercial office- find their website- look back at your lead software to see their last purchase to make sure they are active.- call or email with the phone/email on the site.

Upside:- You know they aren't a wholesaler.- You could use A.I to piece some of this together.- You have their buy box

downside:

Takes time. Some investors don't have websites. The investor you really need for this niche property you have under contract probably isn't the correct buyer for that deal. so you might not get a huge spread from that. Some new construction developers wont do your deal you have because they only work with Wall Street. things like that. Another downside is that they can be professional and don't take deals from wholesalers. etc etc.

Travis Goodwin · Answer

Don't overcomplicate your first deal. Before I ever had a big buyers list, I was reaching out to people who were already buying. Search Facebook investor groups, go to your local REIA meetings, call the "We Buy Houses" signs, look up recent cash sales, and introduce yourself to flippers and landlords. I also let local agents know I was finding off market deals because many of them already have investor clients.

One thing I'd add is that relationships matter more than having hundreds of names. I'd rather have 10 buyers who answer the phone and close than 500 people on an email list who never buy. Build those relationships before you have a deal, keep good notes, and stay in touch. When the right property comes along, you'll already know who to call.

Mohammed Rahman · Answer

Hey Gabrielle,

Networking has always been the biggest one in my experience. Local REI meetups, investor Facebook groups, and landlord associations are great places to meet active buyers before you ever have a deal under contract.

I'd also recommend building relationships with investor-friendly agents. They often know who's actively buying because they're helping those clients close multiple deals a year. Even if they can't share client information directly, they may be able to connect you with investors looking for opportunities.

The biggest piece of advice I'd give is to build your buyers list before you need it. Have conversations, learn each buyer's criteria, preferred neighborhoods, price range, and exit strategy. That way, when you do have a deal, you're matching it to the right buyer instead of blasting it out to everyone.

Best of luck with your first wholesale deal! Feel free to connect with me - I am always looking for deals as well!

Tabish Masood · Answer

One thing that’s helped people build a stronger buyers list is focusing on quality over quantity. A list of 20 buyers who consistently close is far more valuable than 500 names that never respond.

I’d start by looking at who is actually buying in your target area. Search recent cash transactions, attend local REIA meetups, network in Facebook and BiggerPockets groups, and ask title companies or wholesalers (where appropriate) who the active investors are. When you connect with buyers, ask what they’re looking for—price range, neighborhoods, property types, rehab budget, and how quickly they can close. That way, when you get a deal, you’re sending it to people who are actually interested instead of blasting everyone.

Over time, keep notes on who closes, who retrades, and who responds quickly. Your buyers list becomes much more valuable when it’s based on actual performance rather than just contact information.

Stacy Vana · Answer

Congrats on your first deal — that's an exciting milestone. In my experience, the strongest buyers lists come from a mix of a few things working together rather than any single method:

• Local REI groups/meetups — genuinely one of the best sources, since the people showing up consistently are usually active, serious buyers, not just curious browsers
• Networking with other wholesalers — even though you might think of them as "competitors," a lot of wholesalers end up referring deals to each other when something doesn't fit their own buyer's criteria
• Direct outreach to buy-and-hold investors and flippers — cold, yes, but worth it once you can speak specifically to what they're looking for (price range, area, property condition)
• Consistency matters more than the channel — your first few deals are as much about proving you're a reliable source as they are about the properties themselves; buyers remember who sends real, vetted deals versus who wastes their time

Baton Rouge specifically — any local investor associations or meetups you've already found? Happy to think through it more if you share what you've tried so far.

How do you find cash buyers for your first wholesale deal?

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