Webinar

The Ultimate Guide to Deal Sourcing

Transcript | The Ultimate Guide to Deal Sourcing

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Scott with the Hard Money Co. Today, we are continuing our free webinar series. We are excited to be with you today and grateful for the opportunity to discuss how to source deals, one of the top questions we receive.

Before we get started, if you’re interested in following us on social media, it’s @HardMoneyScott or @TheHardMoneyCo on Instagram. As we discussed, this is a free webinar series. When I started in real estate 20 years ago, we didn’t have webinars, mentorships, or anyone to teach us. We had to learn on our own. I always wished I had a way to learn from someone else. This series is a way for us to give back to the real estate community, with no sales pitch or products to sell—just free education.

We’ve covered various topics in previous webinars, such as an introduction to private money, valuation and insights, tax planning, and rehab strategies. Today, we’re discussing deal sourcing, a popular topic. We also have future webinars on negotiation tactics, scope of work, financial modeling, risk management, and portfolio growth. If any of these interest you or your friends, they are available on our YouTube channel and during our live sessions for free.

The Hard Money Co. specializes in financing one- to four-family fix-and-flip properties. We focus on creating transparency, urgency, and diligence to ensure successful real estate transactions.

Twenty years ago, I had no real estate experience, no assets, and no money, but I was determined to hustle and learn how to become wealthy in real estate. My goal was to create generational wealth and sustainable cash flow. Real estate was the only platform that allowed me to achieve this. I learned to use OPM—other people’s money—to finance my ventures, which is still a key strategy for me today. This is how The Hard Money Co. was created, to provide opportunities for others to scale and grow their real estate practices using OPM.

Real estate deal sourcing requires 100% effort. When I started in 2003, I had to write 100 offers to get one deal. You need to be professional, courteous, diligent in your communication, and always be closing. Define your target market, whether it’s specific areas or property types, and create a strategy that works for you. Use every asset at your fingertips, such as online resources and data sources, to find deals.

Driving for dollars, direct mail, and networking are crucial. You need to be present in the market, talking to people, and understanding their needs. Use tools like PropStream and PropWire to find high-equity properties, absentee owners, and other motivated sellers. Build a list of potential leads and use dialers to contact them.

Wholesaling is another strategy. Understand the mechanics of wholesaling, build relationships with real estate agents, investors, property managers, lawyers, and bankers. Attend local events, meetups, and real estate groups to network and find deals. Maintain a high level of ethics and reputation.

To summarize, always make an offer. If you don’t make an offer, you have zero chance of getting the deal. Make informed offers, stick to your numbers, and avoid overbidding. Networking and using tools to source deals are essential. Drive for dollars, send direct mail, use social media, and think outside the box.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. It’s been a pleasure to be with you this afternoon. My name is Scott with the Hard Money Co. If you found this webinar helpful, share it with friends and family. It will be available on our YouTube channel. Thank you for joining us, and good luck with your investing. Make sure you’re making smart decisions and making money. We hope to see you again in our next webinar.

The Ultimate Guide to Deal Sourcing

July 25th, 2024

In the ever-evolving world of real estate, sourcing deals is both a skill and an art. For those new to the industry or seasoned professionals looking to refine their techniques, understanding how to effectively find and secure deals is crucial. Below, we’ll break down the essentials of deal sourcing into four key sections.

 

Leveraging Modern Tools for Deal Sourcing

Real estate deal sourcing has transformed significantly over the years. When I started 20 years ago, we didn’t have the luxury of webinars, mentorships, or advanced tools. Today, the landscape is different. Tools like PropStream and PropWire provide invaluable data to help identify high-equity properties, absentee owners, and other motivated sellers. These platforms enable investors to build lists of potential leads and use dialers to make contact efficiently.

Using online resources is a game-changer. Websites such as Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com aggregate MLS data, making it easier to find and analyze potential deals. These tools allow you to filter searches based on specific criteria, such as days on market or property conditions, to find the most motivated sellers. Embracing these modern tools can streamline the deal sourcing process and increase your chances of success.

The Hard Money Co. 

Using hard money loans allows real estate investors to maximize leverage when purchasing a property and close within just a few days, all while freeing up their own cash for other uses.

The Power of Networking and Relationships

Networking remains a cornerstone of successful deal sourcing. Building strong relationships with real estate agents, investors, property managers, lawyers, and bankers can open doors to off-market deals and opportunities that are not publicly listed. Attend local events, meetups, and real estate groups to expand your network and establish yourself as a serious player in the market.

Engaging with your network consistently is key. Let real estate agents know that you are interested in distressed properties or quick sales. Make sure other investors and industry professionals are aware that you are actively looking to buy. The more people who know about your buying criteria, the more likely you are to receive leads and referrals. A strong network can provide a steady stream of potential deals and valuable insights into the market.

 

Driving for Dollars and Direct Mail Strategies

Traditional methods like driving for dollars and direct mail campaigns are still effective strategies for deal sourcing. Driving for dollars involves physically exploring neighborhoods to identify distressed properties. Look for signs such as overgrown lawns, peeling paint, or boarded-up windows. These visual cues often indicate a motivated seller who may be open to selling their property at a discount.

Direct mail campaigns can also yield significant results. Build a targeted list of potential sellers based on criteria such as high equity, absentee ownership, or length of ownership. Send personalized letters or postcards expressing your interest in buying their property. Consistency is crucial—sending out mailers regularly increases the likelihood of receiving responses. While this approach requires patience and persistence, it can lead to lucrative deals.

 

Always Make an Offer

One of the most important principles in real estate deal sourcing is to always make an offer. If you don’t make an offer, you have zero chance of securing the deal. It’s essential to conduct thorough research, determine a fair offer price, and confidently present it to the seller. Even if the initial offer is rejected, leaving your contact information and staying engaged can lead to future opportunities.

Making informed offers based on solid market analysis ensures that you don’t overbid and compromise your profitability. Stick to your numbers and avoid the temptation to raise your offer out of fear of rejection. Remember, not every deal will work out, but maintaining a disciplined approach to making offers will increase your chances of success over time.

In conclusion, mastering the art of deal sourcing involves leveraging modern tools, building strong networks, utilizing traditional methods, and consistently making offers. By incorporating these strategies into your real estate practice, you can increase your chances of finding and securing profitable deals. Happy investing!

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