Condominiums are less expensive because they are cheaper to build and less desirable to own. Foreclosures are less expensive because they are more difficult to buy and unwanted by the sellers. Fixer-uppers are less expensive because they entail a lot of work. But what about houses that are less expensive because they are simply a good deal. That's buying a house before it put on the market. By purchasing before he property is advertised, you have automatically eliminated all your competition and bypassed the realty agents and their commissions. Within the limits set by seller, you can write your own ticket.

To find a house before it is advertised, you must either find some one who is about to sell or someone who can be persuaded to sell. To locate someone thinking of selling a home, you best avenue is good old word of mouth. Let it be known to friends and relatives that you are in the market. Ask your doctor, banker, hair cutter, or dentist if they know of a potential seller. It's, unfortunately, a hit-and-missed method.

However, locating someone who may be persuaded to sell a home is not as hit and miss . Landlords are ripe potential sellers, waiting to be harvested. For starters if you like the house in which you presently live, ask the landlord about buying it. All landlords live in the shadow of monthly mortgage payments just like the home owners. When rental owners receive 30-days' notice from tenants, they may not be able to afford the lost rental income while waiting for the property to sell. Therefore, they simply put the home back on the rental market. However, if you approach them at this time, while they are hassling with new paint jobs and finding new tenants, they may be very willing to wash their hands of the whole mess and sell to you. Rental ads are overflowing with owners in this exact quandary. Call on homes advertised for rent that interest you and ask the landlord if he or she would consider selling.