How agents find real estate wholesalers
By Josh MillerUpdated 4 min readAgents find active wholesalers and investors in the county deed records, by looking up LLCs that buy and resell in their area, and at local investor meetups. Vet any wholesaler by checking their closed deals in the records, and know your state's rules, since several states now license or regulate wholesaling.
Wholesalers and agents need each other more than either admits. Wholesalers find sellers who can't list; agents sell the houses investors fix up. Here's how an agent finds the good ones.
Where to find them
- The deed records. Investors who bought in your area in the last year, especially LLCs that bought and resold. See who's buying in your county.
- Local investor meetups and real estate investor associations.
- Your own expired listings. The investors who mail your expired sellers are the active ones.
- Bandit signs and mailers in your farm area.
How to vet them
- Closings, not claims. Look up their LLC in the deed records. A wholesaler who's closed several deals in your area is real.
- References from end buyers they've sold to.
- Their contracts. A clean assignment clause, and the disclosures your state requires. State rules.
- How they talk about sellers. A wholesaler who brags about lowballing is a reputation risk to you.
How agents and wholesalers work together
- Listing the flips: investors who buy from wholesalers resell fixed houses, often through an agent.
- Referring the wrong-fit sellers: a wholesaler who meets a seller with equity and time can refer them to list.
- Selling the hard listings: a house that won't sell retail may sell to an investor.
Know the rules first
Several states now license or regulate wholesaling, and licensed agents have their own duties when dealing with investors. Check with your state commission before you co-market anything. Working with investors as an agent.
Questions investors ask
How do I find a real estate wholesaler?
Look up LLCs that bought and quickly resold houses in your area in the deed records, ask at local investor meetups, or look for the "we buy houses" signs and mailers in your market.
How do I know if a wholesaler is legit?
Check their closings in the deed records, ask for references from buyers they've sold to, and confirm they follow your state's wholesaling rules.
Why would an agent work with a wholesaler?
For listings: wholesalers find sellers whose houses need more than a quick sale, and investors resell fixed houses through agents. They're also a buyer for listings that won't sell retail.
Can an agent wholesale?
Rules for licensed agents are stricter: you usually have to disclose your license and act in your client's interest. Check your state commission before you try.