I start my marketing with obituaries followed with probate filings and find it just another effective way to acquire property.

Short of courthouse research you can go to your local library and go to the reference department and research using what is called a Polk City directory that will list if the deceased party owns real estate.

I use a simple letter that has produced great response as follows:

This is the letter that I use.

Dear

I am looking at purchasing several properties at and around ________________________(property address) and would like to talk to you about the purchase of ________________________(property address) if you would be interested in selling.

Thank you for your time and you can reach me at ( )______ - ______________.

Sincerely, John Michael

Did you know that;

*Having a will guarantees that your estate will go through probate? *Your exact probate cost is unknown but the average cost of probate is 4% to 10% of the gross estate? *The average length of probate throughout the country is 13 months? *90% of all estates of singe-widowed adults age 60 and over go through probate? *Failure to utilize each spouse's federal estate tax equivalent exemption can cost an estate up to $235,000 in unnecessary taxes?

*****END OF LETTER*****

Keep in mind that that normally you will have to have cash on hand to make this type of purchase but you will find some properties can be obtained through creative strategies.

Using creative strategies does work if only you ask. The worst that can happen is you will get a "NO"! So you get 100, 200 or even 300 no's before you get a "YES" to your creative strategy such as a "NO MONEY DOWN", "LEASE OPTION PURCHASE", "SUBJECT 2", "OWNER FINANCE", or any other creative form of investing!

It only takes one "YES" to profit!

"You're never a loser until you quit trying." By Mike Ditka, Football Player, Coach

John Michael - "King of Bling" Investor/Teacher/Mentor/Author Office - (775) 535-1341 Toll-Free: 1-877-225-5928 & enter 417862-3164 Fax - (775) 307-6541 Email: john@jmichaelrei.com JMichael Investments: http://www.jmichaelrei.com/ Investing Club: http://jmichaelrei.com/html/join_stealth_rei_club.html Sister Site http://stealth.thecreativeinvestor.com/