Description

In this episode of REI Deal Finders, we break down the full data-driven process of finding motivated sellers and discount properties—starting completely free and scaling up to powerful paid tools. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out where to even look for deals, this episode walks you through exactly how to research, identify, and reach out to property owners before anyone else does.

We cover everything from free county records and auction sites to the top three paid apps our team uses daily—Deal Machine, PropStream, and Deal Finder Data—including how AI is now predicting which homeowners are most likely to sell. Whether you're just getting started or looking to systematize your lead generation, this episode gives you the tools and mindset to move forward and take action.

Episode Highlights

[1:21] – The honest truth: most people won't take action—will you?

[3:45] – Matching your strategy to your resources: time vs. money

[6:46] – The best lists for finding motivated sellers and how AI predicts who's about to sell

[8:03] – Free source #1: County websites—probate, divorce, bankruptcy, and liens hiding in plain sight

[11:30] – Don't fall down the rabbit hole—what you actually need from county records

[12:44] – Zillow, Realtor.com, and the truth about Zestimates

[14:46] – Finding deals in the "For Rent by Owner" section and auction sites like Auction.com

[19:21] – Deal Machine: driving-for-dollars app, AI seller prediction, and calling owners in real time

[24:02] – Absentee owners: why this is the #1 list to target

[25:13] – PropStream deep dive: comps, MLS + public record data, and why the MLS alone misses 50% of sales

[34:00] – Deal Finder Data: AI Sale Predictor, bored investor leads, and filtering for likely sellers in one click

[37:39] – Sending marketing directly from the apps and choosing tools you'll actually use consistently

[41:37] – Your next step starts tomorrow: build your action plan and get on a call

5 Key Takeaways

1. Free data is everywhere—county websites, Zillow, and auction sites are untapped by most investors
2. AI tools now predict which homeowners are likely to sell, giving you a serious edge
3. PropStream pulls both MLS and public record data—giving you 2x the comps agents see
4. Absentee owners and bored investors are two of the highest-converting lead sources
5. Consistency beats perfection—use the tools you'll actually open every day

Links & Resources

• REI Deal Finders Club – Join the community: reidealfinders.club
• Deal Machine – Driving for dollars app: dealmachine.com
• PropStream – Investor research and comp platform: propstream.com
• Deal Finder Data – AI-powered lead generation tool: dealfinderdata.com
• Free lead sources: Zillow, Realtor.com, Auction.com, county tax assessor and clerk of court websites

If this episode helped you see how data and the right tools can transform your deal-finding process, do us a favor—rate, follow, and review the podcast. And share it with someone who's ready to stop looking and start finding.

Let's go get that next deal.