Investors: Where Are You Finding Deals and Trusted Resources?

Question

Investors! I am curious about 2 things and would love a great discussion and feedback. I am a Realtor, investor, and property manager in Michigan and would like to hear your thoughts on the below, as I am trying to grow and make more connections, find better resources, share resources, etc...

1. Where are you finding off market investment opportunities?

I occasionally come across investors who want to sell properties but aren't interested in publicly listing them. Sometimes I have a buyer match in my back pocket, but not all the time. This happens frequently because I am known as being the investment Realtor, but there has got to be a better way haha... It has me wondering where you go to find your investments. Are they always publicly listed? Do you stay off market? Where do you make those connections and find the opportunities? I am asking for investors that I know of but also for myself, as I invest too but sometimes it is dry out there! Where are you getting your deals, whether they be flips or holds (small multifamily for holding, more specifically...)?

I know there are FB groups in particular areas for off market deals but I never seem to have great success with those. Maybe I haven't found the right ones. Are your investments still being found publicly listed on the MLS?

2. Where do you go for trusted real estate investing resources and education? Other than BiggerPockets, of course!

I'm talking about books, guides, podcasts, online communities, educational materials, or even other investors you've connected with. Whether it's rental management, midterm rentals, analyzing deals, financing, or scaling a portfolio, where do you actually go when you want to learn something new? And how do you discover new resources you trust?

Anything and everything is helpful. Thank you in advance!

Jimmy Samaha · Answer

Thanks Amanda. I keep the specifics of how I find my leads to myself, but whatever the source, I treat every one the same way. The numbers have to prove it out before I get excited about it.

Jimmy Samaha · Answer

Good question. I try to treat every off market lead as a starting point, not a deal. Local owner conversations and referrals from agents or property managers can surface opportunities, but I check recent sold comps, get a realistic repair scope, and verify the property details before I spend time on the numbers. For learning, I look for people who have closed the kind of deal I am evaluating, then cross check their advice against local data and the property records. A podcast or group can give you ideas, but the deal in front of you still has to support the numbers.

James Jones · Answer

Amanda, deal flow is the whole game for me. I run 236 single-family rentals in Memphis, and I buy under $100K with an ARV of $180K to $265K, 3BR or more, Section 8 rent of $1,395 to $1,950. I get deals from wholesalers and from owners who know I buy in my ZIPs — 38109, 38111, 38112, 38114, 38116, 38117, 38118, 38122, 38128 — and I pass fast when the numbers do not work. About 9 of 10 wholesaler deals do not fit my buy box, so volume of leads matters more than any one source. On resources, the best education I have had is my own numbers: budget next to actual on every rehab, line by line. The actuals set the next budget. Where are most of your deals coming from right now?

Matthew Morrow · Answer

@Amanda Rechsteiner the buyer-match part is worth separating from finding another source of deals. When someone says they're looking for small multifamily, I'd ask what they last bought, what work they'll take on, and what would make them pass. That gives you something useful when an owner calls. My early purchases came from direct conversations with owners, letters and calls. For learning, I'd favor a local meetup where you can compare a finished project with the original budget, not just hear the success story.

Amanda Rechsteiner · Answer

Thanks for the response! So would you say you typically find opportunities through people you know and word of mouth?

Uchendu Goodluck · Answer

Hi Amanda,

I think you're asking two important questions, especially because finding opportunities and building relationships with reliable people are two of the biggest challenges in growing a real estate investment business.

On off-market opportunities, I think the strongest approach is building relationships with people who consistently encounter potential sellers or know investors who are actively acquiring. That includes investor-friendly agents, property managers, contractors, landlords, probate and estate professionals, and other local operators.

I'm currently building my sourcing business around distressed and off-market single-family opportunities, with a primary focus on Memphis, particularly 38109, 38118, and 38127.

One thing I'm trying to do differently is avoid the usual approach of sending random properties to everyone. I prefer understanding a buyer's actual acquisition criteria first, then sourcing around that. I also want to make opportunities easier to screen by presenting the address, price, beds, baths, occupancy, and known major condition issues upfront, so investors can quickly decide whether something deserves further attention.

I think there's also a lot of value in building relationships between agents who encounter sellers without ready buyers and acquisition sources who already understand what active investors are looking for. There could be opportunities for both sides when the criteria and expectations are clear.

As for education and resources, I've found that conversations with people who are actively buying, managing, renovating, and operating properties can be just as valuable as formal educational material. Understanding what actually happens after a property is acquired is important, not just learning how to find deals.

I'm curious about something from your experience: since you're both an investor and a Realtor, do you find that most of your off-market opportunities come from your existing relationships, or are you actively building systems to identify potential sellers before they reach out?

I'd be glad to connect and exchange insights. Always interested in building relationships with people who are actively involved in the business.

Best,

Uchendu

Investors: Where Are You Finding Deals and Trusted Resources?

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