How to Find Investor-Friendly Realtors: Look for These 9 Skills

Not all real estate agents can tell you the after-repair value (ARV) of the house on 5th Street or give you the estimated capitalization rate (cap rate) for a rental you’re eyeing near the university. If you need help finding, evaluating, or estimating renovation costs for a potential investment property, look for investor-friendly Realtors® with expertise in rehabbing and rental market rates in your area.

Most real estate agents help traditional buyers find homes and work with seller clients who are marketing their primary residence. But the “investor friendly” segment of agents also has spent time learning the investment side of the business and ideally manages a few of their own investment properties. An agent who works with investors knows how to analyze a deal, and may have access to off-market homes through their network.

9 qualities that make for an investor-friendly real estate agent

A generalist real estate agent guides their clients through the entire process of buying or selling a primary residence. They assist with important steps including marketing, negotiations, inspections, the home appraisal, and closing.

But how can you tell if an agent is truly “investor friendly?” What are the signs that the agent has an extra layer of expertise in investments, enabling them to help clients who are looking to flip homes or build a portfolio of rental properties? Let’s take a look at the top skills and qualities to consider.

1. Access to off-market properties

All of the experts we spoke with agreed that the biggest advantage an agent brings to an investor is the ability to deliver properties that can’t be found on the MLS, including those that aren’t even on the market yet.

“Successful investors have a lot of business and a lot going on; they want a Realtor® who’s going to bring them deals. And they don’t want to compete,” says Jordan Matin, a top real estate agent and property investor in Portland, Oregon.

An investor-friendly real estate agent will always be looking for properties their client can’t find themselves, adds Robert Taylor, a seasoned California real estate investor. In fact, many investors will have more than one agent working for them. Taylor personally relies on two agents: One who specializes in homeowners with distressed properties, and another who has managed and owns multiple rental properties.

Investor-friendly agents often have existing relationships with wholesalers who are looking for homeowners willing to sell for cash. The agents then bring those available properties to their investor clients before they are listed, eliminating the need to bid against other buyers.

Benefit to investor: An agent with greater access to off-market deals can provide more investment opportunities for the buyer, giving them an edge over competing investors and connecting them to more lucrative deals.