Many new wholesalers spend months chasing cold leads or trying to force one deal to work, often with no results. Ethan Teleky, a new wholesale real estate investor featured in this guide, experienced this firsthand.
After seven months of frustration and obsessing over the same property, he shifted his mindset and signed two deals in one week. He went from earning $2,500 per month working at a grocery store to making $12,000 on his first real estate deal.
His story is a reminder that with the right steps and support, success is closer than you think.
Watch Ethan’s journey from grocery store employee to closing $37K wholesale deals and how a simple mindset shift changed everything.
This guide walks you through the 9 key steps Ethan and other successful investors use to grow their real estate wholesaling business, whether locally or virtually.
A mindset shift can change everything. Ethan’s breakthrough happened only after he stopped clinging to one property and instead focused on building momentum.
Lesson from Ethan: He called the same property list repeatedly without results. Once he focused on volume and timing, deals started flowing.
Sticking to your local area limits your potential. Ethan started in Bradenton, Florida, and later expanded into Ohio, closing multiple virtual deals.
Cold calling is Ethan’s primary marketing strategy. It is fast, direct, and scalable.
Pro tip: Ethan's team makes hundreds of calls a day, and his biggest deal ($37,000) came from a cold call.
Growth requires a team. Ethan started solo but added cold callers and mentors to scale his efforts.
From Ethan: His current cold callers work directly for him, giving him more control and better results.
Data drives deal flow. The right tools help you find sellers before they consider listing.
Favorite feature: Ethan values DealMachine’s free skip tracing and contact info accuracy.
Qualifying leads saves time. Ask the right questions to focus on motivated sellers.
Ethan’s approach: Motivation is key. Without it, the deal does not make sense, regardless of the price.
Do not waste time calling the same people who never respond. Ethan used to call the same list nine times. Now he works smarter.
Lesson learned: Do not get emotionally attached to a lead just because you’ve tried hard. It is a numbers and timing game.
Negotiation relies on trust, timing, and understanding motivation.
How Ethan does it: Ask simple questions about the property, then explore why the seller wants to move. That is the key.
Systems help you move from hustling to building a business.
Ethan’s goal: He wants to focus on acquisitions and dispositions while delegating everything else, following the model used by top wholesalers closing 70 or more deals per year.
Ethan’s story shows how quickly things can change with the right support and systems:
He started with no college degree, quit his job, and bet on himself. If you are just starting, know that consistent action builds momentum.
By implementing these 9 steps, you will:
Wholesaling is not about luck. It is about working smart, solving problems, and staying consistent.
Ethan went from zero deals to a $37,000 payday by following the steps in this guide. Your journey can start today.
Pick one step and take action. Build your first list. Make your first call. Set up your CRM. Progress comes from doing, not just planning.
It is not about the one house you have been watching. It is about the next ten that are waiting for your call.
Start with driving for dollars. Build a list of 500 to 1,000 properties, skip trace, and cold call consistently. Ethan closed his first deal after adjusting his follow-up approach.
Yes, virtual wholesaling is profitable. You can close deals in any market using tools like DealMachine, cold calling, and local buyers to inspect properties.
In most states, no license is required. However, check local regulations or consult a real estate attorney to avoid compliance issues.
Earnings vary. Ethan earned $12,000 on his first deal and $37,000 on his biggest. Typical assignment fees range from $5,000 to $25,000 per deal.
Ready to start wholesaling? Focus on action, not perfection, and let momentum build your success.