People say real estate is a relationship-based business. It sounds cliché—but it’s true.
The connections you build with realtors, contractors, lenders, and other investors play a major role in your success.
Realtors, for example, are a huge source of deal flow for us. We do very little advertising—most of our opportunities come from agents who trust that we’ll give their clients a fair, honest solution and follow through on what we say.
Contractors are just as important. Strong relationships mean faster response times, better communication, and confidence that the work is being done right.
But where this really shows up is in the long-term.
A Real Example of Relationships Leading to Deals
About six years ago, I was meeting a friend at a coffee shop to talk real estate. Sitting next to us was an older couple discussing a rental property they owned. We ended up striking up a conversation.
They owned several properties in the area. At the time, I was mostly flipping homes but was also actively trying to build my rental portfolio.
I offered to take a look at their properties and share my thoughts on value—and mentioned I might be interested in buying them.
We walked the properties, and I gave them my honest assessment based on comps and the work I planned to do. I also presented a clean, simple offer: buy the properties as-is, no inspections, no disruptions to tenants, no drawn-out process.
They agreed.
I ended up purchasing all three properties—each a duplex—adding six rental units to our portfolio.
A month later, they reached out again. This time, they were interested in participating as a private lender on one of my flip projects. It was their first time doing a deal like that, and it worked out great for both sides.
Over the years, we stayed in touch. We’d talk about rental rates, contractors, and the local market. Whenever they had questions, I’d help however I could.
Fast forward to yesterday.
I just bought another property from them—a four-unit in our market. This time, we structured it as a seller-financed deal. They no longer have the day-to-day responsibilities of ownership but still earn a solid return through interest payments. On my end, it’s another solid long-term asset.
That entire sequence—from a coffee shop conversation to multiple deals over the years—came down to one thing: trust.
No marketing campaign. No cold outreach. Just a relationship built over time.
Long Story Short
Be good to people. Communicate clearly. Do what you say you’re going to do.
In real estate, strong relationships don’t just make the process easier—they lead to better deals and long-term opportunities.
Thanks for reading this week’s Experience, and best of luck in your real estate investing journey!
– BROCK