It’s a hot time for investing in real estate and there is no question these are not just the optimal conditions for flipping houses, but perhaps the best we have ever or will ever see. Unfortunately, the dramatically improving U.S. housing market is giving many the same idea and competition for homes is heating up.
Nationally foreclosures have fallen some 30% since February 2012 and the National Association of Realtors reports buyer traffic up 40% as of the beginning of 2013, while pending homes sales continue to rise.
This is causing multiple offer situations to rise rapidly from coast to coast. We are no longer just taking about 3 or 4 offers coming in on homes over a period of weeks. Realtors are frequently reporting a dozen of more offers within hours of homes going online on the MLS. In one of the most dramatic cases recently a West Coast real estate investor reported going up against 80 other cash offers and even bidding $15,000 to $20,000 over asking price with little hope of even receiving a counter offer.
So how can investors bid and win in among stiff competition like this?
With at least 30% of all real estate transactions being in cash today it is clearly a disadvantage not to be able to act as a cash buyer in this market. Fortunately using transactional lenders can enable wholesalers to effectively act as cash buyers with flash funding and Proof of Funds letters to back them up.
Sometimes it’s about price, other times it is just matching the seller and their agent’s desired timeline and quirks. Often they want to see higher deposits or fewer contingencies to prove how great a prospective buyer you are or it might just be a matter of spinning your personal story.
Another major part of this issue that many don’t understand is that Realtors often refuse to even present offers unless they are gaining both buying and selling side commissions and are effectively doubling dipping. While this certainly isn’t fair for the seller who is normally unaware, the best tactic for overcoming this is to make more direct Realtor connections and make sure you are always dealing with the listing agent, not a buyers’ agent.
Another major reason for such dramatic bidding wars is often the price range and property type investors are targeting. Their focus is often on the ‘bread and butter’ 3 bedroom, 2 bath single family home that also butts heads with the 30% of the market that is made up of first time home buyers. Perhaps targeting a different price range or property type could yield better deals with less competition.
Note that there are also many areas of the country where foreclosures are still spiking by double and triple digit rates and could offer many more choices and bigger discounts. This includes Washington, Florida, New York and others.
Of course switching acquisition strategies from bidding on publicly marketed properties to targeting off market properties and homeowners directly can also make a world of difference.
"I want thank you for the excellent service I received from Best Transaction Funding.The quick response I received from your company from the beginning of the transaction and to the end was unbelievable. I also want to give a special compliment to you as well. You went to great lengths to keep me informed and gave my title company all the information they needed to complete a successful closing. I cannot express how thankful I am. Such service builds great working relationships. I will definitely recommend Best Transaction Funding to all my fellow investors. Thank You."
- Frank Olaitan, Real Estate Investor, MD
"I can't thank you and your company enough for providing funding for our latest project, and right at the last minute. You came through with funding in less than 24 hours and coordinated with the closing agent and attorneys like you had been involved with our project the entire way. I'll know exactly where to call for the funding we'll need for our next project."
- Dave Pricken, Real Estate Investor, NJ
"Thank you so much! I just had a talk with our Realtor on both properties and told him amazing things about your company!... Normally I rehab the houses and re resells them. I just don't have the patience for that work anymore. This [transactional funding] is such a better way for me and less stress."
- Steven Kupecz, Real Estate Investor, TN
"We want to thank you for the exceptional customer service you provided. No one comes close. We had contacted a competitor the same time we contacted your company. Your company responded with in a few minutes while the competitor has yet to respond weeks later even after multiple phone calls and emails. Thanks again for the unmatched customer service."
"We had looked into several transaction lenders for a couple properties we were trying to flip. Your company was the most responsive and had the best pricing. Even though we had logistics issues with the B/C lender, your company acted very professionally and handled our requests beyond our expectations."
"Thank you for your commitment to an excellent customer experience."
- Phoenix Properties, LLC, Ronald Destefani, Investor, PA
"I was studying on how transactional funding works and you guys had the best and most thorough explanations posted so I could fully understand the details in back to back closing. I'd already started setting everything up but your video confirmed that I'm on the right track."
- La'Donna Turnipseed-Scott, Investor, LA
"....a few months back, I happened upon a video, on your site, regarding the use of transactional funding with Hud properties; and I found myself replaying the video over and over because of the value that I saw in the message...it actually explained the process, step-by-step on how to submit a Hud deal by using transactional funding. Once I completed the video, my initial response was to take immediate action by duplicating what I had learned from the video into real time. So I did some research on properties in a market where I knew I had buyers; and put together a hud deal. I then located a realtor able and willing to submit my bid online and within a couple of days, to my surprise, received a call telling me that I had won – my very 1st Hud bid."
"To you I say, ”KUDOS to Best Transactional Funding and Thank you for providing the education and services to Real Estate Entrepreneurs like me. Please keep up the good work!'"
- T. A. Davis, Investor, NJ
"You each deserve high marks for your wonderfully quick response time to each of our questions and requests! You hit home runs with us! Your application system was easy to use. Our deal met your qualifications and every time Rob Kozak or any member of Mystic Properties, LLC phoned, we received a "real" person dialing back to speak with us.
Your patience and persistence were exceptional in dealing with our business interests. Thank you for such great customer service! We look forward to working with your staff, again, in the future. We like referring people to you, as us, our team would have missed-out on an excellent earning opportunity.
Your help negotiating with our title company made our back-to-back deal, finally happen. People noticed on settlement day how effectively and efficiently your part of the transaction was organized and executed. Again, thank you for truthfully being the "BEST" at what you do!"
- Diane McAdams, Mystic Properties, LLC, Real Estate Investor, Pennsylvania
"Boy, you guys are impressive! I can’t thank you enough for scrambling and getting my deal done at the last minute like that. You and your team were awesome!"
- Donna Bauer, The NoteBuyer Inc., Real Estate Investor, OH
"Thank you so much for working so diligently with me. Your services really are the "BEST". I look forward to working with you in the near future!"
- Ericka B., Real Estate Investor, CA