Hi everyone, new wholesaler from Kalamazoo, MI. Finally taking that leap of getting into real estate starting with wholesaling to build some capital and network along the way. Always open to connecting with like-minded individuals, those also starting out, and those who have been in the general real estate game for a while who don't mind bestowing the lessons they learned, especially if you're in the kzoo area.
Wholesaler · Charleston WV · Member since 2026 · 243 posts · 133 votes
3mo
Welcome to the business. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started is that consistency beats talent in this industry. Talk to sellers every day, make offers, follow up relentlessly, and don't get discouraged when things take longer than expected. Most people quit right before things start to click. Best of luck on your journey
Wholesaler · Charleston WV · Member since 2026 · 243 posts · 133 votes
3mo
Welcome to the business. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started is that consistency beats talent in this industry. Talk to sellers every day, make offers, follow up relentlessly, and don't get discouraged when things take longer than expected. Most people quit right before things start to click. Best of luck on your journey
Coral Springs, FL · Member since 2018 · 488 posts · 107 votes
1mo
Welcome to wholesaling, Ty. Joel's networking advice and Travis's consistency point are both solid — those are the two things that actually matter in this business.
But before you spend money on networking events, purchased lists, or paid lead gen, there's a free way to start deal sourcing today: county public records. Every county has three databases that independently confirm motivated sellers. Pull all three on the same property and you've got what experienced wholesalers call "converged distress."
County Tax Collector — tax delinquent properties. These owners are behind on payments. Financial stress. The county is already telling you they're motivated.
City Code Enforcement — property violations with dollar-amount repair costs documented by county inspectors. Not your estimate. Not a contractor's guess. A government inspector walked the property and wrote "$12,000 structural repair" or "$8,500 roof replacement." Physical stress, documented in public records.
County Clerk of Court — probate filings, liens, pre-foreclosure. Legal complexity. These owners are dealing with inheritance, debt, or foreclosure — situations where selling becomes the solution.
When you cross-reference all three databases and find a property that appears on all of them — tax delinquent AND code violations AND probate filing — you've found a confirmed motivated seller. Three independent government sources saying the same thing.
For Kalamazoo specifically, you can pull these records yourself at $0 cost. Kalamazoo County Tax Collector, City of Kalamazoo Code Enforcement, and Kalamazoo County Clerk of Court — all public records, all free to access. This is how you build your first deal pipeline without spending money on purchased lists or paid marketing.
Now your first conversation with a seller isn't "Are you interested in selling?" It's: "I saw the code enforcement violation for the structural issue — the county inspector documented $12,000 in repairs. I also see tax delinquency. I'm not cold calling — I'm responding to what your county has already documented."
Travis is right about consistency — talk to sellers every day. But the quality of those conversations depends entirely on what you have to talk ABOUT. County public records give you something specific to talk about. You're not calling from a purchased list of 200 names where only 15-20 are actually motivated. You're calling 10-15 properties where three independent county databases confirm motivation.
Joel's networking advice is also right, but here's the thing: when you show up to that Kalamazoo REIA meeting, you won't be the guy asking "how do I find deals?" You'll be the guy who already found deals using county records. That's a completely different conversation. Networking works better when you have something to bring to the table.
Good luck with your wholesaling journey. Start with the county records. Pull the tax delinquent list. Pull code enforcement violations. Pull probate filings. Cross-reference them. That's your first deal pipeline. And it costs $0.
Grand Rapids, Kent County · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 0 votes
8h
Hey Ty, welcome to wholesaling! I’m also building my wholesaling business in Michigan, focusing on Grand Rapids and Pontiac. I’m working on connecting with local investors and building a network of potential cash buyers. How has your experience been so far, and have you started connecting with investors in the area?