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Articles for finding motivated sellers.

Plain-English guides for wholesalers, agents and fix-and-flip investors: public-record leads, list stacking, state-by-state tax sales and reaching owners the right way.

Phoenix-area stucco house with a tile roof and desert landscaping
County guides · newest

Maricopa County tax delinquent list, tax lien sale and foreclosure leads (Phoenix, 2026)

How Maricopa County property tax becomes delinquent, how the February tax lien sale and three-year redemption work, where foreclosure and trustee sale notices come from, and how to search Maricopa County probate and property records.

Read the guide · 2 min →
Chicago-style brick bungalow on a tree-lined street in autumnCounty guides

Cook County tax delinquent list, tax sale and foreclosure leads (Chicago, 2026)

How the Cook County tax delinquent list, annual tax sale and scavenger sale work, where foreclosure and sheriff judicial sales come from, how to search Cook County probate and property records, and how investors use them.Oct 18, 2026 · 3 min read
Single-story red-brick ranch house with a live oak tree in a Houston suburbCounty guides

Harris County tax delinquent list, foreclosures and probate leads (Houston, 2026)

Where to find the Harris County tax delinquent list and delinquent tax roll, how Texas tax sales and first-Tuesday foreclosure sales work, how to search Harris County probate and property records, and how investors turn them into motivated-seller leads.Oct 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Mortgage papers, a calculator and house keys next to a small model house on a deskDeal analysis

Mortgage payment with taxes and insurance (PITI): how to calculate it in 2026

What goes into a monthly mortgage payment: principal, interest, property tax, insurance, HOA and PMI. The formula, a worked example and how investors use PITI to judge a rental.Oct 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Property tax bill envelope on a porch table in front of a suburban homeDeal analysis

How to calculate property tax on a house: assessed value, mill rates and exemptions

Property tax in plain English: market value, assessment ratio, exemptions and mill rates, with the formula, a worked example and why a buyer's bill can jump after a sale.Oct 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Closing table with signed documents, a pen and house keys in a bright title officeDeal analysis

Closing costs for buyers and sellers in 2026: what they are and how to estimate them

What buyers and sellers pay at closing: lender fees, title and escrow, recording, transfer tax, prepaids and commissions, with typical percentages and a worked example.Oct 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Empty house under renovation with a wall calendar and utility bills on a work tableFix & flip

Holding costs on a fix and flip: what each month really costs you

The holding costs that run every month you own a flip: hard-money interest, property tax, insurance, utilities and upkeep. How to calculate them and price delays into your offer.Oct 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Notebook with quick deal math next to a laptop and a photo of a rental houseDeal analysis

The 1%, 50% and 70% rules in real estate: do they still work in 2026?

Three quick screens every investor uses: the 1% rule for rent, the 50% rule for expenses and the 70% rule for flips. What each one means, when it fails and how to check a deal in seconds.Oct 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Two investors shaking hands over a purchase contract with a house in the backgroundHow-to

Assignment fee vs double close: which wholesaling exit pays more?

How assigning a contract and a double close work, what each costs (transactional funding, title, transfer tax), a worked example and when wholesalers choose each one.Oct 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Real estate investor's desk with a laptop spreadsheet, calculator, floor plan and a model houseDeal analysis

Real estate deal analysis: the 13 numbers that decide a deal (2026)

ARV, repairs, MAO, profit, cash flow, cap rate, DSCR, cash left after a refinance, entry fee and more: what each number means, how to calculate it, and a free calculator for every one.Oct 14, 2026 · 4 min read
Mortgage papers, house keys, a pen and reading glasses on a kitchen tableDeal analysis

Subject-to real estate deals explained: entry fee, spread and due-on-sale

How a subject-to deal works, how to calculate the entry fee and monthly spread, how it compares with seller financing, and the due-on-sale risk every investor should plan for.Oct 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Real estate investor's desk with a laptop map, a county map and a model houseLead sources

12 signs of a motivated seller you can find in public county records

Tax trouble, inheritance deeds, code violations and more: the public records that point to owners who may want to sell, and how to read them.Oct 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Classic American county courthouse with white columns and a clock towerProperty data

Where to find authentic property data (and why the county is the best source)

The official offices that publish property records in the United States, what each one holds, and how to use them without paying for stale lists.Oct 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Classic American county courthouse with white columns and a clock towerOhio

How to read an Ohio county auditor property record

Parcel numbers, market vs assessed value, transfer history, deed types and tax credits explained in plain words.Oct 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Older house under renovation with a dumpster in the driveway and a contractor truckDeal analysis

Does the 70% rule still work in 2026? How pros calculate their offer

The 70% rule is the classic way to find a maximum allowable offer, but many flippers say it no longer fits today's market. Here is what it is, where it breaks, and the strike-price method experienced investors use instead.Oct 13, 2026 · 3 min read
Row of single-family rental houses on a tree-lined streetDeal analysis

DSCR loans in 2026: how lenders calculate DSCR and what ratio you need

What a DSCR loan is, how lenders calculate the debt service coverage ratio from rent and PITIA, the ratios and LTVs lenders want in 2026, and why DSCR is not the same as cash flow.Oct 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Quiet suburban street with a slightly neglected house and unopened mail on the porchOhio

Tax-delinquent property leads in Ohio: how they work

How Ohio property tax is billed, what 'certified delinquent' means, and how to approach owners who are behind on their taxes.Oct 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Overstuffed mailbox with identical letters in front of a houseProperty data

Why national lead lists go stale, and how fresh county data changes your results

How most lead lists are built, why the same owners get dozens of letters, and what to look for in a data source.Oct 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal envelopes, papers and house keys on a kitchen tableOhio

Ohio foreclosures and sheriff's sales explained for investors

How a foreclosure moves through an Ohio court, when the sheriff's sale happens, and the respectful way to reach owners before it.Oct 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Brick duplex rental property with two front doors and porchesDeal analysis

Rental property cash flow, cap rate and cash-on-cash return: a simple guide

How to calculate rental property cash flow, cap rate and cash-on-cash return, what good numbers look like in 2026, the 1% and 50% rules, and how to find the most you should pay.Oct 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Empty rocking chair on the porch of an older family home in autumnLead sources

Inheritance leads: how to help heirs and still find good deals

Why inherited houses sell, how to spot them in deed records, and a respectful way to reach out to families.Oct 11, 2026 · 2 min read
Suburban two-story house with a blank yard sign in the front lawn at golden hourDeal analysis

Seller net sheet: how to show a seller what they really keep (cash offer vs listing)

What goes on a seller net sheet, how to calculate a seller's net proceeds, and how wholesalers and agents use a cash-offer-vs-listing comparison to have an honest conversation with motivated sellers.Oct 11, 2026 · 2 min read
Real estate investor's desk with a laptop map, a county map and a model houseHow-to

List stacking explained: why owners on three lists beat owners on one

What list stacking is, how the stack score works in LeadCounty, and a few stacks that work well for wholesalers and flippers.Oct 10, 2026 · 2 min read
Kitchen in the middle of a remodel with new cabinets, open walls, a ladder and toolsDeal analysis

How to estimate rehab costs room by room (2026 prices for investors)

A practical way to estimate repair costs on a flip or rental: light, medium and heavy rehab ranges per square foot, 2026 costs for kitchens, bathrooms, roofs and HVAC, and how much contingency to add.Oct 10, 2026 · 2 min read
Older rental duplex with an overgrown yard on a cloudy afternoonLead sources

Absentee owners and tired landlords: finding them in county data

How we decide a property is absentee-owned, why out-of-state owners matter, and how to spot landlords who are ready to sell.Oct 9, 2026 · 2 min read
Vacation rental cabin bedroom made up for guests with a lake viewDeal analysis

Airbnb profit math: occupancy, cleaning fees and break-even (short-term rental guide)

How to estimate short-term rental income and profit: nightly rate, occupancy, cleaning fees, platform fees, every monthly cost, RevPAR and the break-even occupancy that tells you how risky an Airbnb really is.Oct 9, 2026 · 2 min read
Legal envelopes, papers and house keys on a kitchen tableOutreach

Contacting property owners the right way: mail, calls and the rules

A plain-English overview of the rules for letters, calls, texts and e-mail to property owners, and what works best.Oct 8, 2026 · 2 min read
Front porch of an older vacant house with a lockbox on the doorDeal analysis

How to make a wholesale deal sheet cash buyers trust (free template)

What to put on a one-page wholesale deal sheet, how to present ARV, repairs and the buyer's profit honestly, the mistakes that make buyers ignore your deals, and a free deal sheet maker.Oct 8, 2026 · 2 min read
Hand holding house keys in front of a modern suburban homeAgents

How real-estate agents find listings before they hit the market

The public-record signals that show a homeowner may list in the next year, and a simple monthly routine for working your farm with them.Oct 7, 2026 · 2 min read
House interior in the middle of a renovation with ladders and paintFix & flip

Fix-and-flip deal sourcing: vacant, code-violation and inherited houses

Where flippers find houses that need work before they reach the MLS, how to check the numbers from public data, and how to approach the owner.Oct 6, 2026 · 2 min read
Quiet suburban street with a slightly neglected house and unopened mail on the porchLead sources

How to find tax-delinquent property lists in any county

Where unpaid property tax shows up in public records, the difference between delinquent, certified and tax-sale lists, and how to use them well.Oct 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Empty rocking chair on the porch of an older family home in autumnLead sources

How to find inherited and probate properties in public records

The deeds, court filings and owner names that point to inherited houses, how soon heirs usually decide, and how to reach them kindly.Oct 4, 2026 · 2 min read

Coming next

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Texas · coming Oct 20Texas tax-delinquent property leads: how they work and how to use themWhen Texas property tax becomes delinquent, what the penalties are, how tax suits and constable sales work, and how to reach owners before a sale.
County guides · coming Oct 20Dallas County tax delinquent list, foreclosure auction list and probate leads (2026)Where to find the Dallas County tax delinquent list and delinquent tax roll, how Texas tax sales and first-Tuesday foreclosure auctions work, how to search Dallas County probate and property records, and how investors use them.
County guides · coming Oct 21Philadelphia sheriff sale list, tax delinquent properties and probate leads (2026)How Philadelphia sheriff sales work for mortgage foreclosures and tax liens, where tax delinquent properties come from, the nine-month redemption rule, how to search Philadelphia probate and property records, and how investors use them.