Offline....I often discuss the power of a really good email. There is another big secret when it comes to finding deals in your area. That secret is driving (your neighborhood) for dollars! All you have to do is get in your car and drive your local area. I often try to keep up with the homes that are listed in my target market area. By knowing what is on the market, for how long and and the amount it may be listed or sells for will give me an edge in making my offers.
The other day I was going out for lunch and I turned down another street to take the road less traveled. I saw a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) home and I thought this was previously listed with a Realtor. I was in a hurry to meet some friends for lunch but I thought I would give the owner a quick call or at least leave a message to find out more information on the home.
Whe you are looking for great deals you want to find a motivated seller. The more motivated the better chance they will take your (low/agressive) offer. I called this seller and I felt like I hit motivated seller gold! The home was listed with a realtor for $175k but did not sell in sevral months. The owner went on to inform me that this was an estate sale owned by 5 heirs. Most of the heirs lived out of state. They also informed me the home was on a double lot and the lots were zoned residential, as well as commercial use.
I inquired if I could see the home within the next day or so and they inquired "what about this afternoon." I went to look at the home and it was every bit as good as I thought it might be. So now I have to work out the details but my cash offer will be agressive. So today make sure you drive your local area, you never know what type of motviated sellers you may find. Chances are they might just be a phone call away! Believe and Achieve! 
- Joe
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Joe Jurek CPA
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Thank you Joe for the great advice! Earlier this year I was driving around various streets and I noticed a house listed with a realtor. I researched it and found it was a foreclosure. Since I had a bad case of analysis paralysis, I did nothing. That is, up until 2 weeks ago, when I saw it on Craigslist and the price was lowered by 50%! After reading many posts on this website, I finally got the courage to make that call, view the property, make an offer, and negotiate items on the contract, which they accepted! We have submitted the signed contract and now waiting for the seller's signature. It all started with driving for dollars and all of the encouraging people like you Joe on DG.com!
Thank you and God Bless!
JoyMD
Good Job Keep going now your on the right track
Jim Kendrick
http://kendrickpropertymanagement.com/
http://rochesterapartmentrentals.com/?page_id=10
WOW! I see lots of possibility here especially with all of the heirs live out of state. I'm looking forward to hearing about happens please keep us posted. Thanks for sharing.
Lea
...Thank you for sharing your story and congratulations on your potential deal. It all starts with knowing your local target market and what is available at what price. Once there are price reductions or time passes the seller usually becomes more motivated to consider more aggressive offers.
By knowing your market you knew the history on this listings. So many people believe that making offers is like throwing darts at a board more than 100 feet away hoping to hit the board or every now and then getting "lucky" by hitting the bullseye.
However, there is more to it as you already know. Once you know your area and sift, sort and screen through the listings you can then reduce the list to the most likely list of motivated sellers. You are then trying to hit the bullseye from only 5 feet away. A lot better odds! Keep up the good work. As we learn and grow as investors we can share what we learn with others so they can take action and achieve results. Way to go JoyMD! Believe and Achieve!
- Joe
YOU TUBE CHANNEL - Follow me on my You Tube Channel at Joe Jurek Real Estate Investing Adventures
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Joe Jurek CPA
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...This type of deal screams opportunity. I could not have planned it any better. A long time on the market, owned free and clear proeprty, with several heirs, and a double lot. WOW! It gives me goosebumps as I craft my offer. Another tip to share with everyone is as you drive your local area and see a phone number that has an out of town area code, it could mean a more motivated seller. So be sure to call on all FSBOs you never know what you may find. Believe and Achieve!
- Joe
YOU TUBE CHANNEL - Follow me on my You Tube Channel at Joe Jurek Real Estate Investing Adventures
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiko62V79zLKX_owbirAYNA
TWITTER - Follow me on Twitter at Joe Jurek CPA
Joe Jurek CPA
https://twitter.com/JoeJurekCPA
Thank you Jim for your words of encouragement. I plan to keep going and I'm very excited about my real estate investing future!
JoyMD
Wow, thanks for replying Joe!
I have been watching and listening to you and your wife on The Edge DVDs every morning. I love the enthusiasm you both shared. I laughed when you talked about how you felt upon pressing send when submitting an extremely low offer. I felt the same when I pressed send to negotiate some of the contract contents.
Your analogy about throwing darts makes great sense. I have read a lot about others sending out lots of offers and was also told by my coach to go out and start making offers, but I did not feel comfortable doing this and most of all, I do not want to just do my first deal, I want it to make sense. Your reply was the confirmation I needed.
I hope all goes well with your deal.
Thanks for all you do!
JoyMD