5 Ways to Find Off-Market Deals in 2026

In today's competitive real estate market, finding deals on the MLS is increasingly difficult. Off-market properties – those not publicly listed – offer less competition and often better prices. Here are five proven strategies to find them.

1. Direct Mail Campaigns

Targeted direct mail remains one of the most effective ways to reach motivated sellers. Focus on:

• Absentee owners – Landlords who live out of state
• High equity owners – Properties owned 15+ years
• Pre-foreclosure – Owners behind on payments
• Probate – Inherited properties

Consistency is key – plan for 6-12 months of campaigns before expecting significant results.

2. Driving for Dollars

Physically driving neighborhoods to spot distressed properties is old-school but effective. Look for:

• Overgrown lawns and deferred maintenance
• Boarded windows or vacancy signs
• Code violation notices
• "For Sale by Owner" signs

Use apps like DealMachine to quickly capture addresses and skip trace owners.

3. Build Wholesaler Relationships

Wholesalers are constantly finding off-market deals. To get on their buyers list:

• Attend local REI meetups
• Join Facebook groups for your market
• Respond quickly when deals come through
• Close when you say you will – reliability builds relationships

4. Network with Professionals

Build relationships with people who encounter distressed situations:

• Real estate attorneys – Handle divorces, probate, foreclosures
• Estate sale companies – First to know about inherited properties
• Property managers – Know when landlords are burned out
• Contractors – Often called to quote repairs on properties about to sell

5. Online Lead Generation

Modern investors are using digital strategies:

• PPC advertising – Target "sell my house fast" keywords
• SEO – Rank for local motivated seller searches
• Social media ads – Target demographics likely to sell
• Investor websites – Carrot, InvestorFuse, etc.

Take Action

The best strategy is the one you'll actually execute consistently. Pick 1-2 methods and commit to them for at least 6 months before adding more.

Once you find a deal, use Dealvestor's deal analysis tools to quickly evaluate whether the numbers work.