Many investors think that real estate listings will not help them find properties. They think that if people have distressed homes they will not have time to wait around for an agent. Investors spend a lot of time and money using alternative methods to find deals. They may spend time using bandit signs, 800 numbers and offering rewards for information on deserted properties.

But any way that you can get leads on investment properties should not be neglected. Real estate listings hold more promise than you might expect. There are certain things that you can determine from a real estate listing. These things might help you decide whether a listing is a good potential investment.

Do not neglect a free source of leads. Use the real estate listings to help you target good investment opportunities. Watch out for these telltale signs:

* Look for houses that have been listed for a long time - For one thing, the owners may be getting nervous. They might not realize that there are options outside of a realtor. They may consider your interest a lifesaver.

* Look for home prices that have just been lowered - Houses with recent drops in price often are owned by people who are getting more motivated. After all, if you had all the time in the world you would wait for your asking price. A drop in price can indicate that the owners need to get out.

* • FSBO (For Sale By Owner) - Selling a property on your own can be overwhelming. They may be delighted to have any offer than gets them out of their current situation. They also may take a lower offer because they are not paying commission.

* Owner financing is a good sign - This type of risky financing is always more perilous than bank loans. It often involves working with buyers who do not have the credit to get bank loans. Property owners willing to take this kind of risk generally are motivated sellers.

It is probably clear now that real estate listings are a great source of leads. Pick up your local real estate listings and start spotting potential deals.