6 Ways to Find Real Estate Investment Properties

When it comes to investing in real estate, one of the first steps every investor has to take is, you guessed it, find investment properties. However, finding investment properties isn’t always as easy as the books make it seem, especially for a beginner real estate investor. If you are new to the world of real estate investing and wondering how to find real estate investment properties, then this is the guide for you. Below, we explore six simple and efficient ways you can go about searching for and finding investment properties for sale.

How to Find Real Estate Investment Properties: 6 Ways

1. Spread the Word

One of the simplest ways you can find real estate investment properties is through word of mouth. Talk to everyone in your social circle – your friends, relatives, colleagues, and neighbors – and tell them that you are in the business of looking for real estate investment properties to buy. Be clear about what type of property you are searching for and which area you are interested in. They might hear of someone who is looking to sell or see a house for sale in their neighborhood that might interest you. Once they find a potential seller, they should think of you first and inform you. Sometimes, they themselves might even be interested in selling their own property but still have not listed it on the market – you never know!

2. Look for Ads in Newspapers

Another way to find real estate investment properties is through newspapers. Look in the classified section of your local newspaper under “Homes For Sale” or “Properties For Sale”; you will find ads for all kinds of real estate properties for sale, usually divided into houses, apartments, and condos. Most of the time, the properties there are ‘for sale by owner’, but you can find property listings by real estate agents as well. Checking for ads in special real estate newspapers is also a good idea, although these typically come out on a weekly or monthly basis.

3. Drive Around Your Target Area

You can also find real estate investment properties by simply searching for homes with a ‘For Sale’ sign up. Get in your car, drive around the neighborhood you’re interested in investing in, and look for both realtor ‘For Sale’ signs and ‘For Sale By Owner’ signs. Copy down the names, phone numbers, and other contact information that appear on them so you could later get in touch with the homeowners or real estate agents. You can also try ‘driving for dollars’, which consists of searching for properties that are not currently for sale (or at least not being marketed visually) but may have owners who might be willing to sell. In this case, you need to keep an eye out for properties that look vacant, run-down, or that suggest that they have an absentee owner.

4. Use Real Estate Websites

Thanks to advances in technology, finding income properties online is now easier than ever. There are plenty of real estate investor websites on the internet, with thousands of property listings. The best real estate investment app or website in 2020 is Mashvisor.com. Using Mashvisor’s Rental Property Finder, you can search for and find top-performing investment properties (both traditional and Airbnb properties for sale) in any city and neighborhood across the US that best match your criteria.

finding real estate investment properties on Mashvisor

Mashvisor’s Property Finder

The unique thing about Mashvisor is that it is not only a property search website but also a real estate analytics platform. It offers a number of real estate investment tools that help its users to analyze the profitability of properties they find on the site. For example, the Investment Property Calculator allows you to estimate how much return on investment you can expect from a certain rental property. And the Heatmap Analysis tool shows you neighborhood-level data so you can be sure you’re investing in a good location.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial with Mashvisor to start using our tools and find the best real estate investment properties in the US housing market.

5. Network with Other Real Estate Professionals

Another way you can go about finding real estate investment properties is through a solid real estate investment network. Networking with other people in the real estate industry can help you greatly in your search for real estate investment properties. Experienced investors can refer you to many great opportunities that suit your needs and match your goals. Sometimes, they might even offer to sell some of their own investment properties. So before you even start investing in real estate, you should begin to build an extensive network of investors and other real estate professionals. The bigger the network, the better. Consider attending real estate investing clubs and networking events so you can make connections and form relationships with a large number of people in the industry. You can also join various real estate forums and groups online on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.

6. Hire a Real Estate Agent

Working with a real estate agent is another great way to find real estate investment properties. Real estate agents can save you time, money, and frustration, and provide advice and guidance. They are experts at matters relating to real estate investing and know exactly where to look for a property for sale. They have direct access to the MLS and other real estate resources that are not accessible to the general public. They can use their knowledge and skills to help you find investment properties that perfectly fit your criteria and buy them at the best price possible. You can also use their services to find off market properties. However, don’t go for any agent. Make sure to hire a professional agent with investment property experience. You can check out Mashvisor to get a list of licensed real estate agents in the US.

There you have it, six different ways to find investment properties for sale. Try to explore a number of them rather than sticking to only one way. This will put you in a better position to find an investment property that suits your goals. Think about it: if you limit your investment property search to only one strategy, you basically limit the number of properties for sale that you are going to choose from. So take the time to learn all the different strategies described above before you actually start your investment property search.

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