Wholesaling Homes

What Is Real Estate Wholesaling?

Real estate wholesaling is when an individual, the “wholesaler,” acquires a contract from the seller of a property and assigns that same contract to an end buyer. The property is not purchased by the wholesaler. Instead, the owner’s temporary contract allows them the right to sell it on their behalf. Wholesalers earn revenue through a wholesaling fee attached to the transaction — often a percentage of the overall property cost.

These properties are commonly distressed off-market homes. The current owner no longer needs the property and is unwilling or unable to invest the time and effort required to prepare it for a typical sale. Instead, they pay a wholesaler to find end buyers for them.

End buyers are typically real estate rehabbers or other investors who prefer not to spend time identifying discounted properties or negotiating with sellers. By acting as the middleman, wholesalers generate income by helping real estate investors find and close potential deals.

the process of purchasing properties at a discount and then quickly reselling them for a profit. While this can be a lucrative business venture, it is also quite challenging. There are many factors to consider when wholesaling homes, including market demand, property values, renovation costs, and more. To become successful at wholesaling homes, you will need to be knowledgeable about the market, have strong negotiation skills, and be comfortable with taking on risks.

Whether you are just getting started in wholesaling homes or are a seasoned professional, there are some key strategies that can help you succeed in this competitive industry. Some of these strategies include doing your research to find properties that are worth buying at a discount, building strong relationships with other real estate professionals, and taking calculated risks when necessary. With the right knowledge, skills, and determination, you can become a successful wholesaler and make a profit on every deal you undertake. So if you are interested in entering the world of wholesaling homes, start exploring these strategies today!

How Does Wholesaling Work In Real Estate?

Wholesaling real estate creates steady income for investors who can identify properties being sold for under market value, initiate an agreement with the seller of the property, and finally assign the purchase contract to another buyer.

A whole real estate contract between the seller and the wholesaler is required in this transaction. The wholesaler promises to sell the property for a specified minimum price within a specific timeframe. For example, a typical contract may state a wholesaler agrees to sell a property for $200,000 within 3 months.

After finalizing the contract, the wholesaler seeks a buyer. The wholesaler’s objective is to sell the property for a higher price than the contract stipulates. If a contract sets a property’s selling price at $200,000, the wholesaler should attempt to sell it for $225,000 instead. The “spread,” or the difference between the contract price and the selling price, is $25,000 which is profited by the wholesaler once the deal is closed.

There are two main methods used for closing a deal: the assignment of a contract discussed above and the double closing (also known as a double escrow). Let’s take a closer look at the two ways to close a wholesale deal.

Assigning The Contract

Assigning a contract is arguably the easiest way to wholesale real estate. As the name suggests, assigning a contract means that the wholesaler sells the contract, not the property itself. While they don’t own the property, they control it using the contract. Subsequently, once the wholesaler assigns the contract for a subject property, an end buyer will assume the role of the buyer.

It is important to note that you must sign a contract to purchase a subject property during a wholesale deal. This is known as a purchase and sale agreement. Furthermore, make sure the contract does not prevent you from “assigning” or “selling the contract” to an end buyer. All contracts, by default, can be sold to another party (unless specifically stated otherwise within the contract).

The assignment of a contract does not mean you are actually selling the property, nor will your name go on the title. You are simply assigning your rights within the contract to purchase the home and sell the rights to the end buyer for a profit. When it comes time for the buyer to purchase the property, make sure they send the deposit to the title agent or attorney handling the closing. Once the transaction is completed, you are awarded a “finders fee” for acting as the “middleman.” Of course, this is contingent on the premise that every requirement is met in the purchase and sale agreement.

The Double Close

In some cases, a wholesaler may elect to conduct a double escrow, such as when the seller does not agree to an assignment of the contract clause or when it is not allowed by local regulations. Otherwise known as a “simultaneous close,” a double closing is an equally profitable real estate wholesaling strategy.

Essentially, the process of a double closing will witness the investor purchase the property and resell it at a later date. Depending on the particular scenario, the reselling of the subject property may land on the same day it was purchased or even 60 days later.

During a double close, your company will enter into a chain of title and is therefore considered the true owner of the property for a short period of time. Accordingly, the transition of property ownership officially transfers from the seller to you (A-B transaction). It is then up to you to find a buyer who will purchase the property for more than you paid for it (B-C transaction). While the execution of a double closing is not much different from a regular purchase, wholesalers should make sure that their lender allows this type of transaction.

The Virtual Wholesaling Process

1. Do Your Research

Before becoming a wholesaler, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with virtual wholesaling laws. It’s also a good idea to spend time researching the markets you’re interested in buying properties in. For instance, you can use resources like Rocket Homes® to research specific neighborhoods you’re looking to buy in.

2. Find The Right Property

To be successful, you need to find the right properties listed below market value and have to find ways to make them more appealing to the end buyer.

Many investors do this by looking for homeowners that are motivated to sell. For instance, homes that are in foreclosure or have liens are a good place to start. You can also find good deals using the following resources:

•  Multiple listing service (MLS)
• Online networking groups
• Direct mail campaigns
• Social media marketing
• Checking Craigslist for good deals

It’s a good idea to try a variety of methods in the beginning and pay attention to what works. Over time, you can narrow this down to the one or two strategies that give you the best results.

3. Crunch The Numbers

Once you find a property you’re interested in, you need to crunch the numbers to make sure it makes financial sense for you to buy it. To do this, you need to know the property’s fair market value and how much it will cost to make any necessary repairs. This information will allow you to calculate your maximum allowable offer, which is the highest price you can pay on the property.

4. Get In Touch With The Seller

Next, it’s time to reach out to the seller to start the negotiation process. Depending on where you found them, their information may not be readily available. You may be able to find their information by looking at public tax records or by searching for them online.

When you reach out to the seller to make your offer, it’s important to be upfront about the fact that you’re a real estate wholesaler. Explain why working with a real estate wholesaler is beneficial and how you plan to handle the entire process.

5. Perform Due Diligence

It’s harder to perform due diligence when you’re buying an investment property online, but it is possible. You should start by verifying the fair market value of the property.

You’ll do this by looking at comparable properties sold in that area. You can also look at things like rental income, occupancy rates, and cash on cash returns to analyze your investment.

6. Get The Property Under Contract

Now it’s time to present your offer to the seller and put the property under contract. When you present the contract to the seller, make sure it includes an inspection contingency.

This contingency allows you to cancel the contract if any unexpected problems come up during the inspection. The contract should also include the right to assign the contract to another party.

7. Market Your Contract To Cash Buyers

Once you’ve found the right investment and worked out a deal with the seller, your work is not over. Now you need to market your contract to potential cash buyers.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by connecting with a REALTOR® in your area. That individual can help you identify cash purchases made over the past year. You can also connect with potential buyers on social media.

8. Reassign The Contract To The End Buyer

Once you have an interested buyer, you can use technology to assign them the contract and close the deal from anywhere. Programs like DocuSign make it easy to sign the contracts and close the deal virtually.

Pros And Cons Of Wholesaling Real Estate

Just like any other real estate investing strategy, there are pros and cons to virtual wholesaling. Let’s look at some of the biggest benefits and drawbacks you need to know about.

Pros

• Since you don’t have to visit multiple properties in person, virtual wholesaling is a more efficient use of your time.
• It’s a good entry point to getting started as a real estate investor.
• You have the opportunity to close real estate deals in any market, regardless of proximity.
• Very little capital is required to begin, so it’s a low-risk way to get started as an investor.
• If you have access to a laptop and Wi-Fi, you have everything you need to communicate with buyers and sellers.

Cons

• You’ll have to do quite a bit of research to find the right properties and cash buyers.
• It will take time to be successful and start earning a profit as a virtual wholesaler.
• Since you may not see the property in person, there could be issues that you are unaware of.

Example Of Wholesaling Real Estate

Let’s discuss a more in-depth example to familiarize yourself with the concept of real estate wholesaling. Assume there’s a homeowner intent on selling. However, the property is fairly distressed and therefore incapable of being sold for its true market value—if at all.

Instead of rehabbing the home themselves, the homeowner has another option: enter into a wholesale agreement with a subsequent investor. Whether the homeowner can’t afford to make the upgrades or they don’t want to, they can agree to enter into a wholesale contract with a wholesaler.

The contract will give the wholesaler the right to buy the property at a specified price (often lower than market value because of the work needed to rehab). The wholesaler will then find an end buyer willing to pay slightly more than the wholesaler’s original contract and sell their rights to buy the house to the new investor.

Is Wholesaling Real Estate Legal?

Wholesaling is widely viewed as a legal activity because wholesalers are not actually selling a property in and of itself — but rather are selling the ownership of the real estate contract associated with the property.

In general, those who argue that wholesale real estate investors are doing business illegally feel this way because they are not licensed, brokers. It cannot be stressed enough that real estate professionals should always be well-versed in their local market’s wholesaling laws, rules, and regulations to ensure that their business activities are wholly legal before making any moves of their own.

How To Find Cash Buyers For Wholesale Real Estate Deals

Once you have a wholesale real estate deal in mind, it is important to find a cash buyer who is willing and able to purchase the property. Wholesalers typically sell their properties to other investors or groups of investors who then rehab the homes and put them on the market for sale.

As with any business venture, building solid relationships is key to success in the wholesale real estate business. To find cash buyers, start by networking with other real estate investors and professionals such as mortgage brokers, real estate agents, and title companies. You can also search online for cash buyers or contact a local investment club.

Once you have found a few potential buyers, reach out and introduce yourself. Let them know that you are a wholesaler and have properties available for purchase. Be sure to ask if they are interested in purchasing any of your deals.

Wholesaling homes can be a great way to make money in the real estate market. However, it is important to be knowledgeable about the market and have strong negotiation skills. You will also need to build good relationships with other real estate professionals. With hard work and dedication, wholesaling homes can be a profitable business venture.

How To Maximize Your Profits In Real Estate Wholesaling

Wholesale real estate investing presents an opportunity to make money in the property market without having to put up large sums of cash or taking on excessive risk. Wholesaling allows you to be a middleman and simply find distressed properties at a discount, then assign the contract to a buyer who is willing and able to pay more than your purchase price.

To maximize your profits in wholesaling, it is important to:

• Be aware of your local market conditions and trends.
• Understand the types of properties that sell quickly and for how much.
• Know how to find motivated sellers who are ready to deal.
• Have a strong network of buyers who are looking for properties.
• Be able to negotiate well and get properties under contract at a discount.
• Have a system in place for quickly flipping properties.

Wholesaling can be a great way to make money in the real estate market without having to put up a lot of money or take on too much risk. By being aware of your local market, finding motivated sellers, and having a strong network of buyers, you can maximize your profits and succeed in the business.