Finding lease options sellers
See https://reiskills.com/tag/marketing-sellers/
The perfect lease option seller is a three or four or five bedroom house in a good location and they have great urgency to sell. They may have tried to sell with an agent so that’s an expired listing, or for sale by owner, or a landlord that’s out of state. They do need to be a motivated seller to consider at lease purchase.
MOTIVATED SELLER ACQUISITION CHECKLIST
For Real Estate Investors & Wholesalers
📌 1. Identify Seller Motivation (The 7 Key Reasons)
✅ Relocation – Moving soon? Double mortgage/rent pressure?
✅ Divorce/Relationship Issues – Emotional detachment, asset splitting
✅ Financial Hardship – Late payments, pending foreclosure
✅ Tired Landlords – Fed up with tenants/property management
✅ Probate/Inheritance – Heirs want quick cash, no attachment
✅ Downsizing – Empty nesters, high maintenance costs
✅ Upsizing – Growing family needs bigger home
📌 2. Qualify Their Situation
✔ Flexible on Price? (Seeking 30-40% below market?)
✔ Flexible on Terms? (Owner financing, lease-option, etc.)
✔ Urgency? (“Need to sell by [date]”)
📌 3. Source Motivated Sellers
🔎 Online & Ads
☐ Classifieds (Craigslist, FB Marketplace)
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Target keywords: “Must sell,” “OWC,” “Estate sale,” “Moving”
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Focus on aged ads (2+ weeks old)
☐ FSBO Websites – (Zillow, FSBO.com)
☐ Agent Referrals – Expired MLS listings, “motivated seller” keywords
📞 Direct Outreach
☐ Cold Calling – Use scripts:
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“Are you open to creative terms?”
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“Would you consider selling if we could close fast?”
☐ Text/Email Campaigns – Short, benefit-driven: -
*”We buy houses AS-IS, close in 7 days. Interested?”*
🚗 Offline Hunting
☐ Drive for Dollars – Look for:
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Vacant homes (overgrown lawn, mail piling up)
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“For Rent” signs (call with landlord script)
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FSBO signs
☐ Bandit Signs – “We Buy Houses Cash – Call Now!”
☐ Local Networking – USPS workers, contractors, probate attorneys
📌 4. Scripts for Quick Qualification
For Rentals → Potential Seller
“Hi, is your rental still available? […] Would you consider selling if we leased first?”
For FSBOs → Motivation Probe
“I see your home’s for sale. What’s your ideal timeline?”
“If we could meet your needs, would you be open to a fast close?”
Divorce/Probate Situations
“I understand this might be a tough time. Would a quick cash offer help?”
📌 5. Next Steps for Hot Leads
🔥 Set Appointment – Visit property ASAP
🔥 Run Comps – Confirm ARV & repair costs
🔥 Present Offer – All-cash or creative terms
🔥 Lock Under Contract – Option agreement or purchase contract
BONUS: Red Flags 🚩
❌ “I need full market value” → Not motivated
❌ “No rush to sell” → Low urgency
❌ Unwilling to discuss terms → Inflexible
Time = Money! Focus only on sellers who fit the 7 motivations + flexibility criteria.
📥 Downloadable Version: [Your Link Here]
“The fortune is in the follow-up!”
– [Your Name]
Real Estate Investing Coach