Direct Mail & Marketing (1-5)
1. Probate Lists Pull probate filings from county records. Mail heirs within 3-6 months of filing. They often want quick cash to split inheritance and avoid property management.
2. Pre-Foreclosure (Notice of Default) Target properties 60-90 days into foreclosure process. Owners still have time to sell before auction. More motivated than early-stage defaults.
3. Absentee Owners with Equity Filter for out-of-state owners who've owned 5+ years. They're tired of being landlords. Cross-reference with property tax records to verify equity.
4. Expired MLS Listings Scrape expired listings from 6-12 months ago. Sellers who couldn't sell at retail might take wholesale pricing. Skip recent expirations—they're still in denial.
5. Code Violations Pull municipal code violation lists. Owners facing fines want out. Mail them before the city files liens. Time-sensitive motivation.
Public Records Mining (6-10)
6. Divorce Filings County courthouse divorce records = two people splitting assets who both want out fast. Mail both parties. Someone will respond.
7. Tax Delinquent Properties Target properties 2-3 years behind on taxes. Not so late they've given up, but late enough to be desperate. Offer to cover back taxes in deal.
8. Inherited Properties (Transfer on Death) Pull deed transfers showing inheritance. New owners who didn't want the property but got stuck with it. Immediate motivation.
9. Tired Landlords (Eviction Filings) Pull eviction court records. Landlords in eviction hell want out. Even if they win eviction, they're exhausted and selling.
10. Free & Clear Properties + Old Owners Filter for 70+ year old owners with no mortgage. Estate planning motivation. Kids don't want the house. Retirement home downsize.
Networking & Relationships (11-14)
11. Probate Attorneys Build relationships with 5-10 probate attorneys. They know which estates need fast sales. Send them buyer letters for their clients. Referral fees work.
12. Bankruptcy Attorneys Chapter 7 filers often need to liquidate. Chapter 13 filers might want out before restructuring. Attorneys connect you to motivated clients.
13. Property Management Companies PM companies know which owners are bleeding money. Tired landlords with problem properties. They'll refer you to dump the headache.
14. Divorce Attorneys Lawyers handling divorces with real estate need quick sales. Build relationships with 3-5 family law attorneys. They'll send you deals.
Digital & Online (15-17)
15. Facebook Marketplace + Craigslist FSBO Search "I buy houses" and "sell my house." Owners trying DIY sales first. When they fail for 60+ days, they're motivated. Follow up relentlessly.
16. Driving for Dollars 2.0 (DealMachine App) Drive neighborhoods photographing distressed properties. Apps like DealMachine find owner info instantly. Text/mail same day. Speed beats competitors.
17. Google "Sell My House Fast [City]" PPC Run Google ads targeting sellers searching desperately. Landing page captures leads. Costs $10-30 per lead but motivation is high.