There are many ways to make money in real estate, but one you may not have thought of is serving as a real estate agent for investors.
Investors tend to buy and sell properties frequently, which makes them an ideal client for agents who make money through commissions on transactions.
So how do agents become the go-to real estate agent for investors? Read on to find out!
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1. Learn to speak the language of investors
First and foremost, learn how to speak the language of investors. This means understanding terms like ROI, cash-on-cash return, internal rate of return (IRR), and capitalization rate. Investors are more likely to work with you if they can easily communicate with you.
To become more proficient in investing terminology, take an online real estate investing course or go to a local real estate investor association (REIA) or real estate investor club. There, you can meet other investors and learn their lingo.
2. Build a team of real estate referrals
Some real estate investors choose to invest in markets they don’t live in. In that case, they’ll need to find local contractors who can help them manage their properties.
As a real estate agent, you can refer investors to your network of local real estate professionals so they don’t have to do the research on their own. Your team can include a property manager, lenders, cleaners, painters, electricians, appraisers, home inspectors, and more.
The larger your team, the fewer contractors your investor client will have to find on their own.
3. Vet property deals for your investor clients
Real estate investors are constantly looking at deals, deciding which ones are worth their time and money and which are not. As an agent, you can save investors a lot of time by vetting property deals for them.
First, you need to understand what the investor is looking for. Are they trying to maximize ROI by flipping a distressed property or are they aiming to optimize cash flow with a rental property? Whatever the case may be, you can run the numbers to see if a property matches your investor client’s specifications.
That way, you can weed out the ones you know they’re not interested in and save both you and them a lot of time and effort.
4. Network with other real estate professionals
To find investor clients, you need to get your name out there, and the best way to do that is to network. Go to real estate investing clubs and events, attend foreclosure and tax deed auctions, and develop relationships with lenders and title companies. As they say, it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.
By putting yourself in the right circles, you can make a name for yourself. Just try to be helpful and offer advice when it’s asked for. Eventually, people will begin to notice you and go to you when they need an investor-friendly agent or know someone who does.
5. Become an investor yourself
Finally, if you have the means, it pays to become a real estate investor yourself. That way, you will better understand how investors think while showing that you have skin in the game. Investors respect agents more when they put their money where their mouth is. Plus, becoming an agent can be a great way to earn some extra income.
By working as an agent and an investor, you’ll make more money through your investments and new investor client leads. It’s a win-win.
The bottom line
Becoming the go-to agent for real estate investors isn’t easy. But with the right attitude and know-how, you can make your way to the top of investors’ list of property agents. And there’s no better time to start than now!
Investors are buying a record share of US homes. In 2021, they bought 18.4% of the homes that were sold in the US. That means there are plenty of investors out there to work with. You just have to go find them!