How To Find Motivated Sellers? 5 Proven Methods

Let’s face it; you want to buy a house for the lowest amount possible, while the seller wants to sell their house for the highest amount possible. Pretty simple right? That is of course, unless you find a motivated seller. Finding a motivated seller changes the dynamic of the real estate transaction. Suddenly, you have a seller that is willing to do just about anything to get a piece of property off their hands, and all you have to do is be there for the taking. Below you will tips and tricks on how to find a motivated seller, what to do once you have found one, and how to make the most out of the situation.

Who is a motivated seller?

Before we discuss how to find a motivated seller, we need to figure out who a motivated seller is?. Basically a motivated seller is considered anyone that is anxious to sell their property. They will often sell it for less than market value, just to get rid of it quick. Here are some of the most common types of motivated sellers on the market today.

1.Divorce- Divorce and family problems are the #1 reason for motivated sellers. When emotions and lawyers get involved, people are likely to do crazy things. Like sell their house for way below market value! In nasty divorces, you may find someone willing to sell their house for much less, just so that their spouse gets less money in the divorce. While the premises behind these motivated sellers can be nasty- the savings are very real.

2.Moving to a new home- the majority of sellers are buying another home to replace the one that they are selling. They will either hold off on closing until they sell their current home, or they will move into their new home and carry two mortgages until their first home sells. This situation can lead to a motivated seller really fast!

3.Death in the family- Emotions play a big role in finding motivated sellers, and death is just another reason people are motivated to sell. Sometimes the spouse doesn’t want to stay in a house because it has painful memories, or maybe they can no longer afford the monthly mortgage payment. If the house is part of an estate, the seller may be motivated to get the property off their hands in lieu of high property or estate taxes.

4.Job Matters- A new job can be exciting, but if it means moving to a different city the seller can become stressed out quickly. The working spouse may move to the new city, while leaving their spouse behind to hold down the fort until their home sells. When weeks turn into months- the sellers become more motivated to get the property off their hands and get their family back together.

5.Foreclosures- foreclosures can be a real find! There are basically two ways that you can find such properties. First, you may find motivated sellers that want to get the property off their hands before the foreclosure is complete. That way they don’t have to worry about the blemish on their credit history. The second chance for a motivated seller is after the house has already been taken over by the bank. They obviously want to get it off their bottom line.

Everyone is motivated- to a point.

The thing to remember is that almost every real estate transaction involves a motivated seller- to a point. When you are viewing houses, the ones that are vacant are usually a good indication of a motivated sale. Every month that the house remains on the market, is lost money for the seller. So any offer, even if it’s below market value is likely to be seriously considered.

Finding the Motivated Seller

There are dozens of ways to find a motivated seller. Once you know what to look for, the process becomes a whole lot simpler. Make sure to speak with your real estate agent, as they are your best bet when it comes to finding a motivated seller. They know the ins and outs of the market, and will be able to help you find the best deal for your particular wants and needs. Happy hunting!