Many times investors think that they will not find leads in real estate listings. After all, people who own properties that are attractive to investors probably do not have time to wait around on an agent. There are lots of investors who spend lots of time and money finding deals alternative ways. These may include bandit signs, 800 numbers and locating deserted properties.

But you should never neglect good sources of leads on investment properties. Real estate listings hold more promise than you might expect. You can determine certain important things from real estate listings. These things could possibly help you spot a good investment.

Never neglect free sources of deals. You will be able to use real estate listings to find great investment properties. You can look for the following “flags”:

* Houses that have been listed for a long time are good potential targets - It is possible that the owners are starting to get nervous. They may not know that a real estate agent is not their only option. Your contacting them could actually be a life preserver.

* Check for lowered prices - People who drop their price may be getting motivated to sell. If they had time to spare they would wait it out. The owner may need out if they have just dropped the price.

* • FSBO (For Sale By Owner) - It is possible that FSBO owners are getting overwhelmed. They may be happy to not have to deal with the situation anymore. Since they are not paying commission they may take a lower offer.

* A good sign is when a property offers owner financing - This type of financing has inherent risk. It may involve working with buyers who do not have enough credit to get a bank loan. A property owner who will take this risk is often a motivated seller.

You can see now how real estate listings are actually a great source of leads. Pick up your local paper and see how many potential deals you spot in the real estate listings right away.