How to Buy a House That Is Not for Sale

You can save serious cash and outsmart other potential homebuyers by beating everyone else to the punch.

Are you looking to buy a house that’s not on the market? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

By finding an off-market house, you can avoid a bidding war. If you want to convince a homeowner to sell, however, you’ll have to bring them a compelling offer.

Until recently, the residential real estate market hasn’t changed much during the last few years. There are plenty of homebuyers, but not enough homes.

Resultantly, you may have to resort to uncommon practices to land a home that you desire. Finding a home that’s not for sale is one of those tactics.

Read on to learn how to buy a house that is not for sale.

Gearing up for the Buy

Before you do anything, recognize that you shouldn’t go at it alone just because you’re taking a different approach. It may seem like a good idea to cut out the middleman.

However, going it alone may cause more problems than it solves. Accordingly, it makes good sense to hire an agent.

For instance, a homeowner may not take your offer seriously if you’re not represented by a professional. Also, even if you do find a deal, it may fall through if you make an error during closing. Hire a real estate agent to make sure that the process goes smoothly.

Make sure that you find an agent that’s willing to put in hard work to make your dream a reality. This characteristic is especially important if you’re a first-time buyer in a hot real estate market.

You’ll need an agent who will look beyond the multiple listing service (MLS). Ideally, your agent will remain proactive in helping you to realize your goal. They’ll help you find an interested seller before anyone else looks at the property.

It’s also a good idea to have an agent represent you just in case the buyer agrees to sell but hires an agent to manage the deal. If the seller has representation and you do not, you’ll most certainly pay top dollar.

Improving Your Odds

It’s helpful to look for homeowners who are more likely to consider your offer. For example, avoid homes that people have only lived in for a few years. These homeowners are not likely to sell if they’ve just moved in.

Alternatively, look for homeowners who’ve listed their properties then removed them from the market. This kind of homeowner is more likely to take an interest in your offer.

However, you may have trouble finding this kind of property if you live in an area with low inventory. If so, move on to looking for properties with absentee landlords.

Typically, absentee landlords will rent out their properties to tenants or use it as an Airbnb. Search online for rentals and Airbnb properties. You can also look for places with a for rent sign.

Investors are more likely to consider an offer. Homeowners, however, are more likely to hold onto their property for sentimental value.

Once you find a property, you must make a fair offer. Make sure to think through the price and conditions of the sale before you approach the homeowner.

You must know what you’re doing beforehand if you’re going to convince the homeowner to sell to you. A half-baked attempt may merely compel the homeowner to put their property on the market.

How to Buy a House That Is Not for Sale

If you want the perfect house, it’s a good idea to get ahead of other potential buyers. To do this, however, it will take some detective work.

Start with your agent. Ask them what properties they’re trying to list.

Also, find out if they’re working on listings that haven’t hit the market. This kind of listing is a perfect opportunity for you to pounce on a property if it’s not for sale.

Another tactic that you can try is to pay attention to life events in the area. For example, keep an eye on the newspaper for birth announcements, weddings and obituaries.

You can also consider a mass mailing. Target the neighborhood where you’d like to live.

A mailing company can sell you a list for a nominal fee. Have your agent compose an unsolicited letter to buy houses for the residents on your list.

If you’re looking for a condo, you can try the homeowners Association (HOA), boards. Contact the head of the organization and find out if they know anyone who might want to put the unit up for sale. If they don’t know anyone that wants to sell, they can at least ask around.

Get Ready for a Bumpy Ride

So far, this sounds great, right? Well, now it’s time to face a sobering reality.

Buying a house that’s not for sale is smart, but it’s not easy. You should prepare yourself for a lot of rejection.

With some people, there’s no way you can overcome their sentimental bond to their home. Resultantly, no amount of money will compel them to sell their property. Some homeowners wouldn’t part with their property if you handed them a blank check.

Nevertheless, approach each homeowner with confidence. However, prepare yourself to hear the word no.

Closing in on the Dream 

Now you know how to buy a house that is not for sale. If you’re interested in a property that’s not on the market, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

The worst thing that can happen is that the homeowner will say no. However, you’ll never know if you don’t try. Good luck, and don’t give up until you’ve landed the home of your dreams!

After so much work landing your new home, of course, you’ll want to decorate it with style.