For real estate investors, finding off-market properties can mean the difference between a good year and a great one. Off-market deals, properties not listed on the MLS, are often where the best opportunities hide.
These deals typically face less competition, allow for direct negotiations with sellers, and provide a wider range of creative financing options.
But many investors struggle to find them. Traditional methods, such as yellow letters, cold calling, and generic mailers, often fall short, wasting time and money without yielding results.
That was the challenge facing Albert Diaz and his wife, who run Orale Homes. Frustrated after months of failed mail campaigns, they found a more effective approach.
According to ATTOM Data, nearly 29% of all single-family home and condo sales in the U.S. were cash purchases in 2022, with many of these coming from investors targeting off-market deals. Off-market opportunities matter because they:
Finding these properties consistently requires a system. That’s where modern tools like DealMachine come in.
Related: Check out this review of DealMachine by Albert Diaz
Albert Diaz and his wife were committed to expanding their real estate portfolio. Like many investors, they began with traditional marketing methods: yellow letters and bulk mailers.
The problem? Their efforts weren’t working.
Most of the letters were never opened. Contracts were nowhere in sight. The couple was spending money every month but wasn’t moving closer to their goals.
Everything changed when Albert stumbled across DealMachine while scrolling Facebook. Curious, he signed up and started using it to identify and contact property owners. Six months later, his approach to finding off-market properties had changed significantly.
“I haven’t stopped using it,” Diaz says. “My main goal was getting out there and trying to reach people.”
With DealMachine, Diaz and his wife now add 10–15 properties to their pipeline every week, with about half of those owners responding.
One of Diaz’s early success stories perfectly illustrates the difference professional marketing can make.
After adding a property to DealMachine, he received a call from the owner just days later. The owner, who lived five hours away, told him she usually throws away yellow letters and generic mailers without even opening them.
But this time was different. DealMachine’s professional postcard design stood out and grabbed her attention. Instead of discarding it, she picked up the phone and even drove five hours to meet with him in person the next day.
“That made me feel good,” Diaz recalls.
The property owner’s feedback confirmed that presentation matters. Professional marketing materials don’t just look better; they build trust and credibility.
Traditional approaches, such as yellow letters, worked in the past, but today many homeowners view them as spam. Generic mailers often end up in the trash before anyone has a chance to read them. For investors, this means:
In a competitive market, standing out matters more than ever. Sellers are more likely to respond to communication that looks professional, personal, and trustworthy.
Albert Diaz is quick to recommend DealMachine to both new and experienced investors. His reasons are simple:
By replacing old-fashioned mail campaigns with an app-based system, Diaz and his wife freed up time to focus on conversations with property owners rather than chasing down leads that never panned out.
Before switching tools, Diaz and his wife were investing a significant amount of time in marketing campaigns that were going straight into the trash. Now, every effort counts.
Instead of sending thousands of letters and hoping for replies, they can:
This efficiency not only saves money but also maximizes their chances of securing profitable deals.
For beginners, the biggest challenge isn’t usually money; it’s confidence. Many new investors are unsure of where to begin or feel overwhelmed by marketing. Diaz recommends starting with tools that simplify the process.
Here’s a simple plan for getting started:
Finding off-market properties doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right system, investors can cut through the noise, reach sellers who are ready to talk, and build profitable businesses without wasting money on outdated methods.
Q: How long does it typically take to see results with DealMachine?
Albert Diaz saw results within days of adding properties. Many users build a pipeline of 10–15 properties weekly, with about half of the owners responding.
Q: Is DealMachine suitable for beginning real estate investors?
Yes. It’s affordable, user-friendly, and provides faster results than traditional marketing. Albert Diaz specifically recommends it for new investors.
Q: What makes DealMachine’s postcards more effective than yellow letters?
The professional design creates credibility. Sellers are more likely to read and respond to materials that look trustworthy, unlike generic mailers that are often discarded.
Q: Do off-market properties really offer better deals than MLS listings?
Often, yes. Off-market properties have less competition, which can mean better purchase prices and more room