Some Wholesaling Advice
Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 4 votes
Some Wholesaling Advice
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Taylor DaschBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Temple, TX · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 700 votesDont worry about the buyers, once you have a deal on the line you will start getting ideas. The deals- if you want to get a wholesale deal under market you have to find someone who is more worried about selling fast than losing a bunch of money. These are typicaly on the foreclosure list, vacant homes, inherited homes, divorces, etc. The issue is that a lot of people are hitting these list. I still get deals from these lists from time to time so in my opinion its worth it. I have had the most success in terms of time / deals closed with Driving for dollars.
Taylor Dasch | EG Realty560 Reviews
19 Replies
- 7moTaylor DaschBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Temple, TX · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 700 votes
Dont worry about the buyers, once you have a deal on the line you will start getting ideas. The deals- if you want to get a wholesale deal under market you have to find someone who is more worried about selling fast than losing a bunch of money. These are typicaly on the foreclosure list, vacant homes, inherited homes, divorces, etc. The issue is that a lot of people are hitting these list. I still get deals from these lists from time to time so in my opinion its worth it. I have had the most success in terms of time / deals closed with Driving for dollars.
Taylor Dasch | EG Realty560 Reviews- Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 4 votes7mo
@Taylor Dasch so you think driving for dollars is best? How would I go about that? I don't have constant access to a car
- Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 4 votes7mo
@Taylor Dasch how long did it take you to get your first deal?
- Real Estate Agent · Columbus | Toledo · Member since 2019 · 607 posts · 768 votes7moWelcome to the league James. To find real deals you should pull motivated lists from PropStream to cold call or mail, but Driving for Dollars is the real secret sauce for targeted leads. It takes more effort than throwing darts at a map but the results are much better. The most important part of the playbook is learning your rehab numbers because a motivated seller is only half the battle. If the math does not leave enough profit for an investor then you do not have a deal. Once you have a solid contract you can find buyers at local REI meetups or by posting on Facebook and BiggerPockets. Focus on the data first and the buyers will follow.
Quote from @James Martin:
Hey all, my name is James and I'm just getting in to wholesaling. I understand the concept, and have some resources to help me, but I don't know how to find a wholesaleable house in reality. How can I find more houses to wholesale? Where do I find buyers?
- Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 4 votes7mo
@Anthony L Amos Jr so you think driving for dollars is best? How would I go about that? I don't have constant access to a car
- Investor · Argyle, TX · Member since 2014 · 112 posts · 73 votes7mo
I agree with Taylor that most of the more commonly known lists of distressed sellers are heavily worked over these days. Starting out you might be better off focusing on driving for dollars, whether in person or virtually. You can cherry-pick the houses and work on specific ones as opposed to casting a larger net where you are competing with larger, more experienced investors/marketers.
Finding buyers is much easier. Finding solid, reliable, and consistent ones can be a little trickier, but it comes with trial and error and/or referrals.
In this market, finding and creating deals is the struggle. But get started and keep going, and your persistence will prevail.
- Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 4 votes7moHow do you virtually “drive for dollars”? Like searching the online market?
- Investor · Argyle, TX · Member since 2014 · 112 posts · 73 votes7mo
Quote from @James Martin:
How do you virtually “drive for dollars”? Like searching the online market?There are a few platforms that can help with this. The simplest is Google Maps. Find an area/neighborhood that you want to farm, switch to street view, and start scrolling down the street. This works best if the maps are recent. As you scroll down the street, look for distressed houses, signs of vacancy or deferred maintenance, damaged roofs, tree limbs on roofs, etc. You can also use the satellite view and look for houses with pools that are empty or neglected, houses with tons of cars/junk in the yard or back yard, and so on.
Once you have some addresses, you can send a letter or postcard. You can skip trace the addresses to be sure you have the owner's home address and mail him/her, and you can call them.
Propstream used to have a map feature that you could use for this as well, but Google is free. It is far from an exact science, but it's a cost-effective way to search for distressed houses.
- Real Estate Broker · New York, NY · Member since 2020 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes7mo
To find wholesaleable properties, focus on motivated sellers, not "nice deals." That usually means people with a problem you can help solve. The most common sources are driving for dollars (looking for distressed or vacant properties), absentee owners, inherited properties, tired landlords, pre-foreclosures, tax delinquent owners, and expired or FSBO listings. Pick one or two methods and be consistent (most beginners fail because they try everything once instead of one thing well).
Once you have a lead, your edge comes from conversation and follow-up, not pressure. Ask about the condition, timeline, and why they’re selling. Most wholesale deals come after multiple touches, not the first call.
To build your buyers list, Go where active investors already are: local REI meetups, BiggerPockets forums, Facebook investor groups, and courthouse auctions. Talk to cash buyers, flippers, and landlords and ask exactly what their buy boxes look like. Save those contacts and keep notes.
Best of luck!
- Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2026 · 24 posts · 7 votes7mo
Super interesting and great topic.
Really honestly any and all of these strategies can work. What nobody talks about much, and I think is massively overlooked when it comes to wholesaling (and flipping) is the plain old MLS. In my experience, the distressed lists are just a really difficult road. The diamonds are definitely there to find, but my god it's a lot of time and effort to find things that hundreds of other people have likely already found.
Sure, that's also true of the MLS, but it's still got the vast majority of viable options on there, in my opinion. So many distressed properties sitting on the MLS - look for properties that are listed below the typical prices in the market you're looking at, and pay particular attention to properties that have been on the market for 90 days or more.
To echo what others have said, really you're trying to find motivated sellers and distressed properties. That combination will get you the deals where the math stacks up. Underwrite quickly and conservatively, and you'll also have to make a lot of offers.
The offers you're going to make as a wholesaler are going to be much lower than the seller or agent is going to want to see, and most of them will get rejected - that's just the nature of trying to find these deals. But if you make enough solid offers, then eventually some will start to come through.
I'd also recommend starting a relationship with cash buyers in your chosen market ahead of time. I agree to an extent that the buyer will come if there's a solid deal, but don't underestimate how quickly you need to find that buyer - often a matter of days. In my experience, it's always smarter to get some relationships with buyers in place, get clear on what they're looking for, and look for that. It generally makes the process faster and smoother for locking down the buyer after you've got your offer accepted.
Get in touch any time, happy to discuss!
- Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2026 · 24 posts · 7 votes7mo
I'm an agent and investor/developer in Los Angeles, by the way.
- Member since 2026 · 97 posts · 57 votes7mo
Hey James, welcome to the wholesaling world! Here are a few strategies that have worked well for finding deals and buyers:
**Finding Deals:**
- Driving for dollars is a classic - look for boarded-up windows, overgrown yards, and code violation signs
- PropStream and BatchLeads can help you pull targeted lists (pre-foreclosure, absentee owners, tax delinquent)
- Direct mail still works, but you need volume and consistency - don't give up after one campaign
- Networking with probate attorneys and estate planners can get you access to motivated sellers before anyone else
**Finding Buyers:**
- Go to local REIA meetings and introduce yourself - cash buyers are always looking for good deals
- Build a buyers list by offering free market reports for your target area
- Check who's buying in your market via public records or PropertyRadar
- Facebook groups for local real estate investors can also be gold
The key is that once you have a truly good deal at the right price, buyers come out of the woodwork. Focus on finding deeply discounted properties first - the buyers will follow. Good luck!
- 7moBo SmithPro MemberHinton, WV · Member since 2026 · 1k+ posts · 373 votes
The sweet spot most beginners miss: start with distressed owner signals, not just distressed properties. Think recent divorce filings, probate, tax liens, code violations. These create motivated sellers who need quick exits. Also build your buyers list FIRST - hit local meetups, Facebook groups, even Craigslist "we buy houses" ads to see who's active. What's your market - are you in a hot area or slower moving?
- Wholesaler · Portsmouth NH · Member since 2019 · 204 posts · 94 votes7mo
Hey James! Great questions. Finding deals and buyers are the two most important pieces of wholesaling.
For finding wholesaleable houses:
Pull data from PropStream or Propwire (free option). Focus on high equity properties, absentee owners, and motivated seller indicators (tax liens, pre-foreclosure, etc.). Then do outbound marketing - text and call those property owners. We use Launch Control for texting and BatchDialer for calls. You can also do driving for dollars. Drive around neighborhoods, find distressed properties, skip trace the owners, and reach out to them directly. Low cost and highly effective.
For finding buyers:
Join local Facebook real estate investor groups in your market. Post that you're a wholesaler with deals coming and connect with cash buyers. Also go to local REI meetups and network in person.
Another solid move is to look up recent cash sales in your target area (you can pull this from PropStream). Those buyers are actively buying and will likely buy from you too.
Happy to speak more on this, feel free to shoot me a DM! - 7moBo SmithPro MemberHinton, WV · Member since 2026 · 1k+ posts · 373 votes
The key is finding properties that LOOK distressed in satellite view but aren't on every investor's list yet. I focus on overgrown yards, blue tarps, boarded windows, stuff that shows up clear in aerial shots. Then cross-reference with public records for things like tax liens or recent deaths. What's your biggest challenge with virtual scouting right now?
- 7moMackaylee BeachPro MemberReal Estate Agent · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 492 votes
To get started with finding wholesaleable houses, it's important to network and build relationships in the real estate community. Here are a few strategies you might find useful:
Attend local real estate meetups, join online forums, and connect with real estate agents and other wholesalers. Building a network can help you gain insights and leads on potential properties. Driving for Dollars - This involves driving around neighborhoods looking for distressed properties that might be good wholesale candidates. Look for signs of neglect, such as overgrown lawns, peeling paint, or boarded-up windows. Online Platforms, use websites like Zillow, Craigslist, or real estate auction sites to find potential deals. These platforms can help you identify properties that meet your criteria.
As for finding buyers, consider the following:
Build a Buyers List. Collect contact information from potential buyers you meet at networking events or through online forums. Keep track of their preferences to match them with suitable properties. Use social media, real estate websites, and email newsletters to market your deals. Platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook can be effective for reaching potential investors.
By combining these strategies, you can effectively find wholesale properties and connect with motivated buyers, setting yourself up for success in the wholesaling world.
- Investor · Get yourself trained before doing something inadvisable. · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes7moYou don't need to be a real estate agent in most places to wholesale properties (but that seems to be changing). Anyway, a wholesaler without an agent's license is limited to selling the contract. A non agent wholesaler can not by law, offer a house for sale. He must sell the contract. Ask an attorney or a real estate broker for details.
Quote from @James Martin:
Hey all, my name is James and I'm just getting in to wholesaling. I understand the concept, and have some resources to help me, but I don't know how to find a wholesaleable house in reality. How can I find more houses to wholesale? Where do I find buyers?
- Real Estate Broker · New York, NY · Member since 2020 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes7mo
Hi James,
It might help you to find real estate investing groups in your area—there you should be able to meet some wholesalers who are better equipped to walk you through the specifics of the wholesaling process in your state.Local meetups, Facebook groups, and networking events are great places to ask questions, see how deals actually get done, and build relationships with people who are already doing it. That hands‑on exposure is often more valuable than trying to learn everything in isolation.
- Real Estate Agent · Nationwide (United States) · Member since 2014 · 96 posts · 34 votes1w
Wholesaling can be a game-changer for agents looking to maximize their income, but it's essential to understand the fundamentals. Focus on finding motivated sellers—those who need to sell due to distress like foreclosure or divorce. These situations often allow you to negotiate better deals.
Start by building a strong network. Connect with other investors, agents, and even landlords in your area. They can provide leads on potential sellers who may be open to creative financing options or quick sales.
When you approach a motivated seller, emphasize that you’re there to solve their problem. Make your offer clear and straightforward. For example, if they’re facing foreclosure, explain how selling their property quickly can alleviate their financial burden.
At StepStone, we teach these strategies in our CE classes, focusing on real-world applications that can put cash in your pocket. Understanding the money side of real estate is what sets successful agents apart. Don’t just check boxes; learn the skills that will translate into real income.
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