Real estate investing is one of the best ways to make money, no doubt. However, sometimes it’s easier said than done. In order to be able to make profitable real estate investments, you have to know where and how to find investment properties for sale which will yield high return on investment. Becoming a real estate investor is all about being resourceful, knowledgeable, and creative, so you should be aware of the different ways you can go about looking for and finding real estate properties for sale.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #1 – “For Sale” Signs
After all, investment properties are real estate properties, so you can go about finding them the traditional way in which you would find your own home: driving around and looking for “For Sale” signs. This method is particularly good if you are looking for rental properties for sale in your own city and neighborhood because you will see any new “For Sale” signs the moment they pop up.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #2 – Ads in Newspapers
Since investment properties are real estate properties, you can also find them in the ads sections of various local newspapers and magazines.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #3 – Real Estate Open Houses
You should also keep your eyes open for ads for upcoming real estate open houses in your local area or beyond. Real estate open houses are a great way to see the property for sale right away and to get a chance to ask any questions you might have before considering putting an offer on the property for sale.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #4 – Real Estate Investors Websites
Technology is permeating every aspect of our lives, including the world of real estate investing. Real estate investors websites are becoming an ever more popular choice for finding investment properties for sale. An excellent example in this regard is Mashvisor, which not only provides you with available rental properties for sale but also offers readily available analysis of the expected return on investment, including rental income, cap rate, and cash on cash return. To make things even better, all these real estate profitability metrics are divided for traditional rentals and Airbnb rentals.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #5 – Real Estate Agents
Whether you are buying real estate for investment purposes or as your own home, you always have the option of going with a real estate agent. Real estate agents and real estate brokers are professionals who have the required knowledge and experience to find the best real estate for sale and to score the best deals for their clients. So, especially if you are a new real estate investor or if you are investing for the first time in a new housing market (for example, out of state), you should definitely think about the possibility of hiring an agent. Chances are that his/her skills will more than compensate you for the fees you have to pay.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #6 – Foreclosed Properties at Banks
When you are wondering how to find investment properties for sale, you should always check with local and national banks for foreclosed properties. Foreclosures, indeed, make for some of the best investment properties as they are usually sold below market value. Buying cheap rental properties allows real estate investors to achieve higher return on investment and make more money in real estate faster. And that’s the goal of every real estate investor, right?
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #7 – Real Estate Wholesalers
Another way to find rental properties for sale is through real estate wholesalers. Buying an investment property from a real estate wholesaler is a great way of going about investing in real estate without having to deal with a property seller or his/her agent directly.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Method #8 – Your Real Estate Investment Network
The last way to go when wondering how to find investment properties for sale is your real estate investment network. Even before you start investing in properties, you should begin to build a solid and immense real estate investment network. The bigger, the better. Your real estate investment network should include other real estate investors, real estate wholesalers, fix-and-flippers, real estate agents, and other people (occasionally or regularly) selling real estate properties. Actually, when you want to buy an investment property, the members of your real estate investment network should be the first place you go to. They know you, and you know them, which means dealing with them will be easy and efficient.
Read here to learn “How to Build and Maintain a Real Estate Investment Network” for all your needs as a real estate investor.
With this, we have covered the main methods of how to find investment properties for sale to make the best investments in real estate. To help you even further in the process of becoming a successful real estate investor, we provide you with a list of the most important tips to follow when buying an investment property, regardless of the method in which you found it.
How to Find Investment Properties for Sale: Tips
To always buy the best investment properties to make money in real estate, read “What Should You Look at in an Investment Property for Sale?”.
- Research the local housing market and make sure it’s a good location for investing in real estate.
- Conduct real estate market analysis, also known as comparative market analysis, to get to know the local housing market and to make sure you buy an investment property at a reasonable price.
- Perform investment property analysis to make sure you are buying a rental property with high potential for return on investment (positive cash flow, good cap rate, and good cash on cash return).
- Explore your investment property financing options (paying fully in cash, mortgage, private money lender, hard money lender, etc.) to make sure you will end up with positive cash flow and good cash on cash return from day 1.
- Do a home inspection to make sure there are no major, structural problems with your new investment property.
- Last but not least, use a rental property calculator to save time and efforts in both the real estate market analysis and the investment property analysis. Try out Mashvisor’s investment property calculator, which will turn 3 months of research into a 15-minute online search. It will provide you with accurate forecasts for rental income, rental expenses, cap rate, cash on cash return, and occupancy rate, for both traditional rentals and Airbnb rentals, at the neighborhood and the property level.
To learn more about the many advantages of using an investment property calculator in real estate investing, read “Where can you find a rental property calculator?”.
The question “How to find investment properties for sale?” has many possible answers. After all, it does not matter so much how to find your next investment property. What really matters is that you do the property research and analysis to make sure that you are buying a profitable rental property.
To get a free 14-day trial with Mashvisor to start looking for the best investment properties around the US, click here.