How To Find Off-Market Properties In Arkansas: The 5 Best Sources

Arkansas has become one of the most attractive and fastest-growing states in the nation. Renowned for its rich natural resources, this small, landlocked state has emerged as a prime destination for those seeking to escape bustling urban centers without sacrificing economic growth. Arkansas's annual population growth has surpassed the national average in recent years, increasing housing demand and positioning the state as a top choice for real estate investing.

Arkansas stands out as an excellent place to invest, and to maximize your investment potential, exploring off-market opportunities is crucial. With fierce competition for on-market properties, understanding how to find off-market properties in Arkansas can give you a significant edge. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to navigate the landscape of off-market real estate and uncover valuable investment opportunities in Arkansas. In doing so, we’ll cover the following:

• What Are Off-Market Properties In Arkansas?
• Why Do Some Sellers Not List Their Properties?
• How To Find Off-Market Properties In Arkansas
• Alternative Strategies To Find Off-Market Properties In Arkansas
• Arkansas MLS Listings Vs. Non-MLS Listings
• Pros Of Off-Market Properties
• Cons Of Off-Market Properties
• Final Thoughts On Finding Off-Market Properties In Arkansas

Understanding how to find off-market properties in Arkansas is just the first step in mastering real estate investing in The Natural State. Enroll in Real Estate Skills' free training program to increase your industry knowledge and take advantage of all the opportunities in today’s market. This course will help you build on your foundational knowledge and equip you with the skills needed to succeed in the competitive real estate landscape.

What Are Off-Market Properties In Arkansas?

Off-market properties are real estate listings for sale but not publicly advertised. They are available for purchase, yet they are not listed on public real estate platforms like the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Instead, they are often shared within a more exclusive network of buyers and sellers.

In Arkansas, off-market properties can provide unique investment opportunities as they are typically not subject to the same level of competition as publicly listed properties. These properties might be available through private sales, direct owner negotiations, or via real estate agents who maintain a select list of potential buyers.

By focusing on off-market properties, investors in Arkansas can uncover hidden gems that might not be available to the general public. These transactions usually involve a more personalized and direct approach, often leading to better negotiation opportunities and potentially more favorable terms. This exclusive pool of properties can offer investors a significant advantage in a competitive real estate market.

Why Do Some Sellers Not List Their Properties?

When learning how to find off-market properties in Arkansas, it's essential to understand why some property owners choose not to list their properties publicly. These reasons can provide insights into the unique opportunities off-market properties offer and why they might attract investors. Here are some of the common reasons property owners in Arkansas opt for off-market listings:

• Not Available: Some sellers will choose to list their properties only if they're available for showings. While hiring an agent to oversee the task is an option, these sellers deliberately skip it because showing the property themselves grants them control over how their home is presented to potential buyers. Other sellers, particularly those facing foreclosure, cannot afford agent commissions, so they handle property showings singlehandedly.
• Seller's Market: Some property sellers go off-market whenever there's a seller's market in Arkansas. With buyers already having limited options, this strategy gives the seller control over the sale price and terms. Additionally, by going off-market, these sellers create a sense of exclusivity and urgency, prompting buyers to meet their sale terms.
• Pocket Listing: Some homeowners prefer to sell their homes as pocket listings, that is, as private and exclusive listings. They'll often specifically instruct their realtor to market the property privately. In such instances, the realtor typically markets the property directly to potential buyers such as local investors.
• Coming Soon: Other sellers in Arkansas do not go exclusively off-market. Instead, they'll have their agents list their properties as "coming soon" on the MLS and other online marketplaces to gauge buyer interest.
• Foreclosure With Tenants: When a rental property is in foreclosure, some owners will often choose to sell it off-market to avoid disrupting the peace of their tenants.

How To Find Off-Market Properties In Arkansas

Most off-market properties in AR are usually sold below market value, awarding investors a decent profit margin. However, they're only sometimes readily available. Thankfully, the real estate market now has house-flipping software to help locate real estate properties. Here's how to find off-market properties in Arkansas using real estate software:

• PropStream
• DealMachine
• Foreclosure.com
• Mashvisor
• BatchLeads

PropStream

PropStream is one of the best real estate software programs to implement to learn how to find off-market properties in Arkansas. Launched in 2006, It aggregates property data from various sources, including county records, the MLS, and private data sources.

The software has a database of over 150 million property records nationwide, including Arkansas. These records encompass off-market listings like auctions, pre-foreclosure, pre-probate, cash buyers, tax delinquency, bank-owned, and senior owners, making it possible for off-market investors only to target off-market properties ideal for their portfolios.

PropStream takes things one step further by providing an intuitive search function and over 120 search filters and statuses. These features make finding highly specific off-market homes for sale straightforward, as users can combine multiple filters to generate targeted lead lists.

Furthermore, PropStream offers about 19 quick lists. These lists are a game-changer for off-market investors. They contain pre-set filters targeting specific property types, including auctioned, zombie properties, tired landlords, and tax delinquency. Additionally, users can customize these lists with additional filters to make them even more targeted. Once set, the user will no longer have to repeat each search. Instead, they only have to hit their quick list to generate a list of highly targeted investment properties.

Notably, each property record has detailed owner and property details such as the owner's phone number and email address, mortgage history, and tax information. These details significantly simplify marketing as users already have the details they need for outreach. PropStream has a skip-tracing tool to find the current owner's contact information if these details prove insufficient.

PropStream also offers tools to assess whether a property is a good investment. These include MLS comps, average days on the market, comps reports, an ADU calculator, and a rehab cost calculator. Furthermore, the software has a mobile app version, allowing users to conduct off-market house searches even on the go.

Read Also: PropStream Review: Pricing, Features, & Is It Worth It?

DealMachine

DealMachine is real estate software designed to streamline off-market lead generation and management. Its stand-out feature is the driving-for-dollar functionality, simplifying off-market lead generation for investors who physically scout Arkansas markets for off-market opportunities.

They can enter the address and picture of a property they've identified. The app will scan its database of over 100 million properties to generate details like the owner's phone number, email address, and physical property information.

This data enables the investor to contact the owner directly and assess instantly whether the property is worth pursuing.

If investors determine it's worth pursuing, DealMachine offers a built-in direct mail feature for seamless outreach. Investors can design and generate a direct mail postcard immediately via the numerous postcard templates available in the app. Even more impressive is that they can capture and use a photo of that particular property in the postcard, which increases the likelihood of a response.

For investors looking to achieve further personalization, DealMachine partners with Ballpoint Marketing for handwritten mail. That means you can schedule your direct mail to be handwritten and sent to the property owner on your behalf. The handwritten touch paints you in a more empathetic and honest picture, enhancing your chances of receiving a response.

Notably, DealMachine's driving-for-dollars feature has route tracking to ensure investors and their teams don't drive the same route twice. Other noteworthy DealMachine features for off-market lead generation in Arkansas include the list builder, free CRM software, and batch skip tracing.

Read Also: DealMachine Review: Is It Worth It?

Foreclosure.com

Foreclosure homes are among the best off-market properties for sale. Whether in pre-foreclosure or bank-owned, these properties are often sold at a significantly undervalued rate, creating the potential for immense returns. If you'd like to specialize in this category of off-market investments, you need to check out Foreclosure.com.

Foreclosure.com is a real estate website featuring over two million foreclosure listings spanning categories like

• pre-foreclosure
• Sheriff sale listings
• Short-sale properties
• Bank-owned (REOs)
• City-owned
• Rent-to-own listings

Besides having multiple categories of foreclosure listings, Foreclosure.com records are widespread, often including listings from small towns and neighborhoods you wouldn't find elsewhere; this makes it one of the best sites for foreclosure investing opportunities in cities like Russellville, Arkansas.

The site has a search function and multiple filters, allowing users to identify the type of foreclosure they want quickly. Each listing includes detailed information, including physical property details like sqft and the owner's contact data. Users can also view results by map or list view, allowing them to select the most convenient option.

Read Also: Foreclosure.com Review: Is It Worth It For Real Estate Investors?

Mashvisor

Mashvisor is one of the best real estate resources an off-market investor can utilize to find off-market properties Arkansas owners want to sell. Established in 2014, Mashvisor is an online investment platform designed to make profitable real estate opportunities accessible to all.

The platform has an online property marketplace where investors can find and sell properties. For off-market investors, Mashvisor aggregates off-market properties from different sources, including the MLS, Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor, making them available in its marketplace. These properties range from foreclosure and tenant-occupied to zombie properties and senior-owned homes.

Beyond the search function and filters, Mashvisor offers a heatmap. It's a convenient tool for off-market investors as it can color-code properties that fit their target criteria in each neighborhood. Notably, each property identified has a detailed property analytics page featuring information like property type, price, square feet, number of beds and baths, and comps. This data allows users to quickly determine whether a property is worth pursuing.

Mashvisor properties also feature a neighborhood analysis page with insights into the investment potential of specific neighborhoods. Adding tools like the investment property calculator and Mashvisor makes it easy to find and analyze the quality of off-market property investment deals.

BatchLeads

BatchLeads is a real estate investing platform offered by BatchService. It provides tools for off-market lead generation, marketing, and management. Not surprisingly, it can also teach you how to find off-market properties Arkansas homeowners are looking to sell.

For off-market lead generation, BatchLeads has a database with property records from over 3000 counties, including those in Arkansas. These records include expired and canceled MLS listings, distressed properties, absentee owners, and pre-foreclosures. To streamline the search process, the platform has 1000+ filters that users can stack to generate hyper-targeted lead lists. Additionally, users can upload existing lead lists to the platform for refining.

Although each listing you generate features detailed owner and property data, BatchLeads subscription plans include skip tracing credits, allowing users to find even more current owner information. Furthermore, the software offers lead scoring, which assigns scores to each lead, allowing investors to prioritize those most likely to convert.

Once motivated leads are identified, BatchLeads offers built-in marketing tools such as SMS and direct mail campaigns. These tools allow investors to reach out to potential sellers and manage marketing efforts seamlessly.

Read Also: Batch Leads Review: Pricing, Features, & Is It Worth It?

*For in-depth training on real estate investing, Real Estate Skills offers extensive courses to get you ready to make your first investment! Attend our FREE training and gain insider knowledge, expert strategies, and essential skills to make the most of every real estate opportunity that comes your way!

Alternative Strategies To Find Off-Market Properties In Arkansas

While the above real estate software and marketplaces will go a long way in streamlining your search for off-market houses in Arkansas, they are only a piece of a larger marketing funnel. You must cast a wider net to maximize your ability to secure an off-market home. With that in mind, here are additional strategies you can employ to ensure your lead pipeline is always full:

• Engaging With Real Estate Agents & Brokers
• Networking With Other Homebuyers & Investors
• Searching Local Courthouse & Public Records

Engaging With Real Estate Agents & Brokers

When learning how to find off-market properties Arkansas homeowners want to sell, you’ll quickly grow to understand the importance of local real estate professionals. Local real estate agents and brokers are among the most resourceful professionals you can have in your network regarding off-market investing. Their profession immerses them in the local market, giving them in-depth knowledge of its real estate landscape. The nature of their job also allows them to build extensive networks with other industry professionals.

This combination means they often learn about off-market properties before anyone else. Additionally, they're the only professionals usually notified of pocket listings.

Building good relationships with these professionals allows you to tap into their insider knowledge, giving you an edge in finding off-market investment opportunities.

So, how do you cultivate relationships with real estate agents and brokers in Arkansas? Attend local real estate workshops, participate in local real estate forums, and even specifically hire them to help you find off-market listings.

Read Also: Arkansas Real Estate Classes

Networking With Other Homebuyers & Investors

Is wholesaling real estate legal in Arkansas? Yes. Do people flip houses? Yes. As a result, networking with investors may be one of the best ways to find off-market properties in Arkansas. Besides agents and brokers, real estate investors can generate off-market property leads by networking with other homebuyers and investors.

That means anyone who already knows how to flip houses in Arkansas or investors wholesaling deals are well connected and great sources of information. Since their lives revolve around real estate, these individuals often boast insider knowledge about exclusive, off-market listings.

Networking with them unlocks your access to this information. So, make a point to participate in local real estate events, join online and local real estate investing clubs, and engage in social media and local REI discussion boards to establish connections with these individuals.

Networking with homebuyers can also be a valuable strategy for real estate investors in Arkansas to find off-market properties. By connecting with individuals looking to buy homes, investors can gain access to potential sellers within the same network.

Many homebuyers are also looking to sell their current properties, often without listing them publicly. Building relationships through real estate events, local community groups, and online platforms can create exclusive opportunities. This approach not only broadens the pool of available properties but also provides a more personalized and direct way to negotiate deals, offering a significant advantage in a competitive market.

Searching Local Courthouse & Public Records

In addition to the above steps, make it a habit to browse local courthouse records and public records. Local courthouse records usually contain various off-market property types, such as foreclosures and pre-foreclosures, probate home sales, divorce settlement properties, tax liens, bankruptcy sales, and eminent domain homes.

Additionally, in Arkansas, foreclosure auctions are held in local courthouses. So, find out when these auctions usually occur and attend them; you might secure a great deal.

Also, check out public records such as newspapers and bank websites and government-related agency records such as HUD and FHA websites. This comprehensive approach will help ensure your pipeline is always full of off-market leads.

Arkansas MLS Listings Vs. Non-MLS Listings

While off-market properties in Arkansas offer excellent real estate deals, investors can't afford to ignore the MLS. The MLS is full of opportunities where people are already willing to sell; investors just need to know what to look for. The MLS attracts a wide range of real estate players, providing a hub to find nearly any property type, from single-family homes and townhouses to multi-family homes and commercial properties. Since non-MLS listings can sometimes be challenging to locate, maximizing MLS listings ensures a steady flow of leads in your pipeline.

Additionally, MLS properties are typically listed by real estate agents who can offer valuable guidance and assistance, ensuring smooth transactions for investors. The MLS is a rich resource that brings together motivated sellers and detailed property information, making it an indispensable tool in any investor’s arsenal. By diligently scouring the MLS, investors can uncover hidden gems, price reductions, and newly listed properties that may not be widely known yet.

At Real Estate Skills, we are dedicated to helping you succeed with both MLS and non-MLS listings. Besides teaching you how to find off-market properties in Arkansas, we offer a free training program. This course explores how investors can leverage the MLS to discover great deals and provide strategies to access this nationally recognized database without a license.

Our training also includes tips on negotiating with sellers and agents, understanding market trends, and using MLS data to make informed investment decisions. Enroll today to learn how to effectively capitalize on MLS listings and enhance your real estate investment strategy.

Read Also: How To Get MLS Access In 6 Ways (Even Without A License)

Pros Of Off-Market Properties

Learning how to find off-market properties in Arkansas and making use of what you know to invest grants you the following benefits:

• Reduced Competition: On-market deals can be a hassle to secure due to the masses of investors they attract. On the other hand, off-market deals reduce the number of buyers competing over a respective deal. These deals are shared only with an exclusive pool of real estate professionals and investors who use word of mouth to market them; this significantly reduces their exposure, minimizing aggressive bidding wars and ultimately making it easier for interested investors to secure the deal.
• Lower Sale Price: Reduced competition for off-market properties typically equals reduced demand for the property and, ultimately, a lower sale price. Even in a seller's market, off-market property owners are often more open to negotiations, which, if done well, could result in a lower sales price.
• Smoother Negotiations: Without the constraints typical of a public listing, off-market property owners are usually under less pressure and urgency to sell, allowing for relaxed and thoughtful negotiations. The absence of a competitive environment allows both parties to negotiate based on the property's features rather than emotions. For instance, the buyer isn't pressured to buy out of fear of losing the deal, while the seller isn't anxious about holding onto the property in hopes of a better offer; this ultimately results in an equally satisfying agreement for both parties.
• Flexible Transaction Timelines: Off-market property transactions aren't subject to the deadlines and urgency of on-market listings. For example, the seller doesn't have to worry about listing expiry, which means they can give the buyer enough time to secure funding.
• Unique Investment Opportunities: Going off-market unlocks access to unique and exclusive listings investors wouldn't find on-market. For instance, most celebrities sell their properties off-market. Off-market investing means access to such listings.

Cons Of Off-Market Properties

Going off-market in Arkansas also comes with some drawbacks:

• Limited Availability: off-market investment properties are generally fewer than on-market listings
• Difficulty Finding Properties: Off-market properties can be tricky because they're fewer and are usually only advertised to a smaller pool of buyers.
• Challenges With Inexperienced Sellers: Most sellers, especially individual homeowners who sell their properties off-market, are usually inexperienced, making the deal more stressful to close.

Final Thoughts On How To Find Off-Market Properties In Arkansas

Learning how to find off-market properties in Arkansas is one of the best choices you'll make for your real estate career. It significantly expands the scope of properties you can pursue and unlocks your access to potentially profitable properties such as foreclosures and bankruptcy homes. It also offers an alternative to ensuring your lead pipeline is always full, even when on-market competition is stiff.

Now that you've learned how to find off-market properties to invest in, take the next step towards success by enrolling in Real Estate Skills' free training program. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in real estate investing. Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your expertise and achieve your investment goals. Sign up today and start your journey to becoming a successful real estate investor!

*Disclosure: Real Estate Skills is not a law firm, and the information contained here does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with an attorney before making any legal conclusions. The information presented here is educational in nature. All investments involve risks, and the past performance of an investment, industry, sector, and/or market does not guarantee future returns or results. Investors are responsible for any investment decision they make. Such decisions should be based on an evaluation of their financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.