How to Wholesale Real Estate

Wholesaling real estate is a dynamic and lucrative strategy for entering the world of real estate investing. It offers a unique opportunity to profit from real estate transactions without the need for substantial capital or extensive renovation work.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how you can make money through real estate wholesaling and establish a strong foothold in the industry.

Real estate wholesaling involves finding distressed or undervalued properties and connecting motivated sellers with eager buyers. As a wholesaler, your primary role is to identify these lucrative opportunities and negotiate favorable purchase agreements with sellers.

There are 7 main ways to make money wholesaling real estate when you are learning how to wholesale real estate.

1. Assignment Fee:
   • The most common method in wholesaling is to negotiate a contract with a seller to purchase their property at a specific price and then assign (sell) that contract to an investor or buyer for a fee. This fee, known as an assignment fee, is your profit.
2. Double Closing:
   • In a double closing, you buy the property from the seller and then immediately sell it to your end buyer on the same day. You make a profit by purchasing at a lower price and selling at a higher price in a single transaction.
3. Simultaneous Closing:
   • Similar to a double closing, a simultaneous closing involves two separate transactions: one with the seller and one with the buyer. However, the transactions are coordinated to occur at the same time, allowing you to use your buyer's funds to purchase the property.
4. Lease Options:
   • Instead of purchasing the property outright, you can negotiate a lease option with the seller, giving you the right to lease the property and potentially buy it at a predetermined price in the future. You can then assign this lease option to an investor or buyer for a fee.
5. Seller Financing:
   • Some sellers may be willing to offer financing for their properties. You can negotiate favorable terms with the seller and then sell the property to an investor or buyer with the seller's financing in place. You make money by collecting the difference between the seller's terms and the terms offered to your buyer.
6. Subject-To Deals:
   • In a subject-to deal, you take over the existing mortgage or financing of the property while leaving it in the seller's name. You can then sell the property to an investor or buyer, often at a higher price, and collect the profit.
7. Wholesale Lease Options:
   • Combine the concepts of lease options and wholesaling by securing a lease option on a property and then assigning that lease option to an investor or buyer for a fee.

The key to success lies in your ability to secure properties at a lower price than their market value and then sell these contracts to investors or buyers at a profit. This process allows you to generate income quickly and efficiently, even if you're new to the real estate industry.

One of the standout advantages of wholesaling is its minimal financial risk. Unlike traditional real estate transactions, you don't need to buy properties or invest substantial capital in renovations.

Instead, you profit from the price spread between your negotiated purchase price and the higher price at which you sell the property or contract.

This makes wholesaling an accessible entry point for aspiring real estate investors. Over the course of this guide, we'll delve into the various strategies and tactics that successful wholesalers use to maximize their profits, build a strong network, and thrive in the competitive real estate market.

Whether you're a seasoned investor looking to diversify your portfolio or a newcomer seeking financial independence, mastering the art of real estate wholesaling can be your path to success.

Assignment Fee Example Wholesaling Real Estate

When you receive an assignment fee for wholesaling real estate, you are getting paid by the either the buyer or the seller or possibility both parties. Here is how you can make money wholesaling real estate with an assignment fee.

1. Identifying a Property: You find a motivated seller who wants to sell their single-family home for $100,000. After assessing the market, you determine that the property's current market value is around $120,000.
2. Negotiating the Deal: You negotiate with the seller and agree to purchase the property for $100,000. You sign a contract (the purchase agreement) with the seller, which includes an “assignment clause” that allows you to assign the contract to another buyer.
3. Finding an Investor Buyer: You have a network of real estate investors, and you quickly find an investor interested in the property. The investor agrees to purchase the property for $110,000.
4. Assigning the Contract: Instead of buying the property yourself, you decide to assign the contract to the investor. You fill out an assignment of contract form, stating that you're assigning your rights in the purchase agreement to the investor.
5. Collecting the Assignment Fee: The investor pays you an assignment fee of $10,000 (the difference between the purchase price in the contract with the seller and the higher price at which you're selling it to the investor). This $10,000 is your profit for the deal.
6. Transaction Closing: The closing process occurs, and the investor buys the property directly from the seller for $100,000. The seller gets the amount they agreed upon, and you receive your assignment fee.

In this wholesale real estate, you never actually take ownership of the property. Instead, you leverage your ability to find and secure good deals at a lower price and then assign those contracts to investors or buyers who have the resources and expertise to close the transaction.

Your profit comes from the assignment fee, which is the difference between the purchase price in your contract with the seller and the price at which you assign the contract to the end buyer or investor.

Double Closing Example Wholesaling Real Estate

Scenario: Residential Property

1. Finding the Property: You identify a distressed property, a single-family home, in a desirable neighborhood. The property is in need of significant repairs, and the seller is willing to sell it for $70,000.
2. Negotiating the Deal: After negotiating with the seller, you agree to purchase the property for $70,000. You sign a purchase agreement with the seller that allows for a double closing.
3. Finding an Investor Buyer: You reach out to a real estate investor who specializes in renovating and flipping houses. The investor is interested in the property and is willing to buy it from you for $80,000, provided that the property is vacant and ready for renovation.
4. Double Closing Process:
   • You schedule a double closing with a title company or attorney experienced in real estate transactions.
   • In the morning, you go through the first closing as the buyer. You use funds from your own source or a transactional lender to purchase the property from the seller for $70,000.
   • Immediately after the first closing, you proceed to the second closing as the seller. You sell the property to the investor for $80,000. The investor uses their funds or financing to complete this purchase.
5. Your Profit: In this double closing, your profit is the difference between what you paid to the seller ($70,000) and what you received from the investor ($80,000). Your profit in this deal is $10,000.
6. Transaction Closing: The title company or attorney handling the double closing ensures that the property's ownership is transferred from you to the investor seamlessly. All necessary documents are signed, and the transaction is recorded.

The double closing allows you to buy the property from the seller and then sell it to your end buyer, often on the same day, without using your own funds.

Your profit is the spread between the two transactions. It's important to work with professionals experienced in double closings to ensure a smooth and legally compliant process.

Scenario: Simultaneous Closing Wholesale Real Estate

1. Finding the Property: You identify a motivated seller with a single-family home in a popular neighborhood. The seller agrees to sell the property to you for $100,000, which is significantly below its market value of $130,000.
2. Negotiating the Deal with the Seller: You negotiate and sign a purchase agreement with the seller for $100,000. The agreement allows you to purchase the property, and it includes terms that specify your intention to immediately resell the property.
3. Finding an End Buyer: You have a list of real estate investors and buyers in your network, and you find an investor willing to purchase the property from you for $110,000. The investor has the funds ready for this purchase.
4. Simultaneous Closing Process:

• In the morning, you go through the first closing as the buyer. You use your own funds or financing from a transactional lender to purchase the property from the seller for $100,000.
  • Immediately after the first closing, you move to the second closing as the seller. In this transaction, you sell the property to the investor for $110,000. The investor uses their own funds or financing to complete the purchase.

• Your Profit: Your profit in this simultaneous closing is the difference between what you paid to the seller ($100,000) and what you received from the investor ($110,000). Your profit in this deal is $10,000.
• Transaction Closing: The two closings are coordinated by a title company or attorney to ensure that both transactions happen seamlessly. Documents are signed, and ownership of the property is transferred from you to the investor in the second closing.

The key distinction in a simultaneous closing is that you use your own funds or financing to purchase the property from the seller in the first closing, and then you immediately sell the property to your end buyer in the second closing, often at a higher price.

Your profit comes from the price difference, and it requires coordination between all parties involved, including title companies, attorneys, and buyers. It's crucial to work with professionals experienced in simultaneous closings to ensure a smooth process.

Lease Option Wholesale Real Estate Example

Scenario: Residential Property

1. Finding the Property: You come across a property that has been on the market for a while. It's a single-family home in a good neighborhood, and the seller has had trouble selling it at the listed price of $150,000.
2. Negotiating the Lease Option: After speaking with the seller, you negotiate a lease option agreement. The terms of the agreement state that you will lease the property from the seller for a specified period (e.g., one year) with the option to purchase it at a predetermined price of $160,000 during or at the end of the lease term.
3. Securing the Lease Option Agreement: You and the seller sign the lease option agreement, and you provide a non-refundable option fee to the seller as consideration for the option. This fee can vary but is often a few thousand dollars. The option fee gives you the exclusive right to purchase the property at the agreed-upon price within the specified time frame.
4. Marketing the Property: While you have control of the property through the lease option agreement, you market it to potential buyers or investors who are interested in the area. You find an investor buyer who sees potential in the property and is willing to purchase it for $170,000.
5. Assigning the Lease Option: You decide to assign your lease option agreement to the investor buyer. This means that you transfer your rights and obligations under the lease option to the investor. The investor agrees to step into your position and exercise the option to purchase the property from the seller.
6. Collecting Your Profit: As part of the assignment agreement, the investor agrees to pay you an assignment fee of $10,000 (the difference between the option price of $160,000 and the sale price of $170,000). This $10,000 is your profit for facilitating the lease option deal.
7. Transaction Closing: When the lease option period expires or earlier if both parties agree, the investor exercises the option to purchase the property from the seller for $160,000. The closing takes place, and you receive your assignment fee as part of the transaction.

In this lease option deal, you control the property through the lease option agreement, and you profit by assigning the option to an investor buyer at a higher price.

Your profit comes from the difference between the option price and the sale price. Lease option deals can provide you with flexibility and the potential for a good profit without needing to purchase the property outright.

Subject-to Deal Wholesale Real Estate Example

Here's an example of how a subject-to deal works in real estate wholesaling with the same criteria as the previous simultaneous closing example:

Scenario: Residential Property

1. Finding the Property: You find a motivated seller who has a single-family home in a desirable neighborhood. The property is worth around $130,000, but the seller is facing financial difficulties and needs to move quickly. The seller currently has a mortgage of $100,000 on the property.
2. Negotiating the Subject-To Deal: After discussing the situation with the seller, you negotiate a subject-to deal. The terms of the agreement state that you will take over the existing mortgage and the ownership of the property “subject to” the existing financing. The seller agrees to deed the property to you, and you agree to continue making the mortgage payments on their behalf.
3. Securing the Subject-To Agreement: You and the seller sign a subject-to agreement, which includes a deed to the property and an acknowledgment of your responsibility for the mortgage payments. There is typically no cash changing hands in this type of transaction, as you are assuming the existing financing.
4. Marketing the Property: With control of the property, you begin marketing it to potential buyers or investors who are interested in purchasing a property with existing financing in place. You find an investor who is willing to purchase the property for $140,000.
5. Assigning the Subject-To Agreement: Instead of purchasing the property yourself, you decide to assign the subject-to agreement to the investor buyer. This means that you transfer your rights and responsibilities under the agreement to the investor, who will take over the property “subject to” the existing mortgage.
6. Collecting Your Profit: As part of the assignment agreement, the investor agrees to pay you an assignment fee of $10,000 (the difference between the agreed-upon purchase price of $140,000 and the existing mortgage balance of $100,000). This $10,000 is your profit for facilitating the subject-to deal.
7. Transaction Closing: The closing takes place, and the property is transferred from you to the investor. The investor assumes responsibility for making the mortgage payments and takes over ownership of the property.

In this subject-to deal, you acquire the property “subject to” the existing financing, allowing you to control the property without obtaining a new loan or paying cash to the seller.

You then assign your rights under the subject-to agreement to an investor buyer, who agrees to take over the property and the existing mortgage. Your profit comes from the difference between the purchase price and the existing mortgage balance, which is paid to you as an assignment fee.

Here's an example of how a wholesale lease option deal works in real estate:

Scenario: Residential Property

1. Finding the Property: You come across a motivated seller who owns a single-family home valued at $200,000. The seller is open to creative solutions because they're relocating and don't want to sell the property immediately.
2. Negotiating the Wholesale Lease Option: After discussing the seller's situation, you propose a wholesale lease option. The terms of the agreement state that you will lease the property from the seller with the right to sublease it to another tenant-buyer. The lease term is three years, and you have the option to purchase the property at a predetermined price of $210,000 during or at the end of the lease term.
3. Securing the Wholesale Lease Option Agreement: You and the seller sign the wholesale lease option agreement, which includes the lease terms, the option price, and other relevant terms. You also provide an option fee to the seller, which can vary but is typically a few thousand dollars.
4. Marketing the Property to Tenant-Buyers: While you have control of the property through the wholesale lease option, you market it to tenant-buyers who are interested in a lease-to-own opportunity. You find a tenant-buyer who is willing to lease the property from you for three years with the option to purchase it for $220,000.
5. Assigning the Wholesale Lease Option Agreement: You decide to assign your wholesale lease option agreement to the tenant-buyer. This means that you transfer your rights and obligations under the lease option to the tenant-buyer. The tenant-buyer agrees to step into your position, lease the property, and potentially exercise the purchase option.
6. Collecting Your Profit: As part of the assignment agreement, the tenant-buyer pays you an assignment fee of $10,000 (the difference between the option price in your agreement with the seller and the higher option price in your agreement with the tenant-buyer). This $10,000 is your profit for facilitating the wholesale lease option deal.
7. Transaction Closing: The closing takes place, and the property is leased to the tenant-buyer for three years with the option to purchase it for $220,000. You receive your assignment fee as part of the transaction.

In this wholesale lease option deal, you secure a lease option from the seller, lease the property to a tenant-buyer at a higher price, and then assign the lease option to the tenant-buyer.

Your profit comes from the difference between the option price in your agreement with the seller and the higher option price in your agreement with the tenant-buyer. This type of transaction allows you to control a property and profit from it without needing to purchase it yourself.

How to Wholesale Real Estate

As we wrap up our conversation about how to wholesale real estate, it's clear that this strategy offers an accessible and profitable way to enter the world of real estate investing.

Throughout this discussion, we've explored various methods of making money through wholesaling real estate, shedding light on the versatility and potential within this industry. Let's quickly recap the key ways you can profit through real estate wholesaling.

First, we've looked at assignment fee deals, where you secure properties at a lower price and then assign your contract to an investor or buyer, earning an assignment fee in the process.

Second, simultaneous closings allow you to purchase a property and immediately sell it to your end buyer on the same day, reaping the rewards of the price difference.

Additionally, lease options provide an opportunity to control a property by negotiating a lease with the seller and then assigning that lease or selling the property to an investor. Lastly, subject-to deals involve taking over the existing mortgage on a property while leaving it in the seller's name and then selling it to an investor or buyer, often at a higher price.

These strategies, collectively forming the foundation of how to wholesale real estate, empower you to turn distressed or undervalued properties into profitable opportunities.

Wholesaling real estate offers a low-risk entry point into real estate investing and can be a stepping stone to building a successful real estate portfolio. So, whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting, don't hesitate to explore the world of real estate wholesaling and unlock its potential for financial growth and independence.