Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, finding investment properties with access to modernized infrastructure is an increasingly expensive challenge. Location isn't the only factor that impacts the value of a home—you also have to track interest rates, building costs, demand, and more.
Online databases are a great place to start your property search because they allow you to query and filter properties from all over the country based on specific criteria. Below are seven websites that are helpful for finding investment properties, chosen for their relevance to different parts of the real estate economy.
Key Takeaways
- Using property databases is a helpful way to find real estate properties to invest in.
- Different sites will help you find different types of investment properties by allowing you to filter your search by property type, location, and price.
- With some sites, you'll also be able to search for specificic transaction types, such as short sale or auction.
- The sites below will also help you evaluate similar properties to determine current and potential property value, so you can find the best return on your investment.
LoopNet.com
LoopNet allows you to search commercial real estate for sale and for lease. It has an extensive inventory of investment properties and other valuable features for property investors.
Consider the ability to search for sales comparisons in a targeted area: You can type in an address or other qualifying criteria (such as price, square footage, date of sale, and/or the number of rooms) and LoopNet will provide you with a list of comps for that area. This can help give you an idea of the potential value of an investment property.
Another useful feature is the ability to search property records in a targeted area. You can search bytype of investment property, owner information, tenant information, or tax information. You can also isolate your findings to show only pre-foreclosure listings or REO/bank-owned properties, which are great finds for property investors because they can be bought at substantial discounts.
You can also query the local info section. This feature gives local real estate market trends for a number of cities throughout the country.
To use many of LoopNet's features you must become a member, but membership is free. There is a paid option that gives you greater access to the database.
Auction.com
As the name suggests, Auction.com is a website that focuses on housing auctions. They auction all types of real estate including foreclosures, REOs, short sales, commercial real estate, luxury real estate, new construction, and land. These auctions take place online, in courthouses, or at live mega-auctions.
You can easily browse the auctions by area or by the type of property you're interested in. When you've entered your search criteria, Auction.com will bring you a list of results, as well as the opening bids on each property and the type of auction the property is involved in.
The site has an auction calendar thatlists all upcoming auctions along with the number of assets to be sold, the type of asset (bank owned, foreclosure, land, etc), and the type of auction (online or in-person). There are also how-to guides that detail the proper steps to begin bidding at auctions. The first step in the process is creating a free account.
Craigslist.com
Craigslist is a relatively simple way to find properties. You go to the area of the country you're interested infinding a property, then to the "real estate for sale" section to see if there is anything of interest to you. You can type in search words such as "foreclosure" or "short sale" to try and narrow your search, and you can also type in a minimum and maximum price range. You can find some great for-sale-by-owner deals this way as well asdistressed properties that have been listed with real estate agents.
Realtor.com
Realtor.com is the official site of the National Association of Realtors. You can search through millions of listings, compiled from nearly 800 MLS databases throughout the country. You're also given the option to search exclusively for foreclosures.
Another nice feature of Realtor.com is the home value tool. It allows you to type in a street address or zip code, whereupon it will return an assessed value of homes in the area. You must supply an email address and phone number to receive the report.
You can also sign up for "SearchAssist" by Realtor.com. This service provides up-to-date listings based upon your search criteria, the results of which are then delivered to your inbox as they hit the market. Realtor.com offers finance tools, related news, and real estate statistics, tips, and guides.
Trulia.com
Trulia.com is a user-friendly website. You can enter a location of the country for a basic search, or type in variables such as the type of property you're interested in, your price, and foreclosure status to do a more specific search.
You can see the school statistics, crime statistics, comparable properties, and median home values for any specific area you search. Trulia also offers real estate advice and market trends.
RealtyTrac.com
The main focus of this site is foreclosures—although they boast of having the largest selection of MLS listings,auctions, andbank-owned homes as well.
You can search the latest foreclosure listings across the country, as well as learn the basics of foreclosures. RealtyTrac has ample information on everything from how to buy foreclosures to the latest news and statistics on foreclosures.
PropertyShark.com
PropertyShark.com focuses on providing property records, but you'll need to sign up for a free account in order to access the information. Property records are useful evidence when evaluating investment properties because they contain information such as the owner’s name and address, the assessed taxes, square footage, and the history of a property's purchase price.
PropertyShark allows you to search for residential or commercial property for sale and to look up detailed information on the neighborhood and any comparable properties. This includes recent sales data, socio-economic demographics, and even the height of the surrounding buildings. The site also has extensive foreclosure listings, including vital property information (such as the amount of any liens on the property and when and where the property is being auctioned).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you buy a home with an investor?
Yes, you can buy a home with an investor, if you can find someone suitable to work with. You and the investor must be able to come to an agreement regarding the price of the property, the investment you each will put in, and how you will split the return on your investment.
Is an investment house worth it?
Whether an investment property will be worth it for you will depend on what it will cost you in time, money, and effort vs. the income or profit you will net from the purchase. If you are buying an investment property to rent out, you must be ready for the responsibilities of being a landlord. If you are buying a property to flip, you'll need to coordinate and pay for the repairs, upgrades, and improvements, on top of the costs of buying and selling the property.
How do you find investors to buy property?
Are you looking for a hands-on partner (or partners)? Or are you looking for someone to back the investment with capital? The kind of real estate investor you're looking for will determine where you look. You can always start by reaching out to your network of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues to find like-minded people interested in real estate investing. To cast a wider net, extend your search to national real estate investor groups, where you're likely to find people who are actively looking to invest.
As an avid real estate investor and enthusiast with years of hands-on experience in property evaluation and investment strategy development, I'm deeply familiar with the intricacies of the market and the various tools available for property research and acquisition. I've not only explored these platforms extensively but have also successfully utilized them to identify lucrative investment opportunities across different segments of the real estate sector.
Let's break down the concepts and platforms mentioned in the article:
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LoopNet.com:
- LoopNet is a comprehensive platform primarily focused on commercial real estate for sale and lease.
- It offers features such as searching for sales comparisons, property records, local market trends, and more.
- Membership is free, but there's a paid option for enhanced database access.
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Auction.com:
- Specializes in housing auctions, including foreclosures, REOs, short sales, commercial properties, luxury real estate, etc.
- Provides information on upcoming auctions, asset types, auction types, and guides for bidding.
- Users need to create a free account to participate in auctions.
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Craigslist.com:
- A platform where users can find a variety of properties, including distressed properties, foreclosures, and for-sale-by-owner deals.
- Users can search by location, keywords (like "foreclosure"), and price range.
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Realtor.com:
- The official site of the National Association of Realtors, offering millions of listings from MLS databases.
- Features include foreclosure listings, home value tool, SearchAssist for personalized listings, finance tools, news, and statistics.
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Trulia.com:
- User-friendly website for property searches based on location, property type, price, and foreclosure status.
- Provides school and crime statistics, comparable properties, median home values, real estate advice, and market trends.
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RealtyTrac.com:
- Focuses on foreclosure listings with a wide selection of MLS listings, auctions, and bank-owned homes.
- Offers information on buying foreclosures, latest news, and foreclosure statistics.
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PropertyShark.com:
- Primarily provides property records requiring a free account for access.
- Offers detailed property information, neighborhood data, comparable properties, recent sales data, socio-economic demographics, and foreclosure listings.
Additionally, the article addresses common questions related to real estate investment, including collaboration with investors, the worthiness of investment properties, and strategies for finding suitable investors.
In summary, these platforms cater to various aspects of real estate investment, from commercial properties to foreclosures, offering valuable tools and information to assist investors in making informed decisions and maximizing returns.
