Top 5 Free Platforms for Finding Motivated Sellers
On a budget? No problem. These free platforms can still help you uncover motivated seller leadsโif you know how to use them right.
Facebook Marketplace & Groups 
Best for: Off-market seller connections and FSBO leads.
There are thousands of real estate investor and local property groups where motivated sellers are posting their properties. Use keywords like โfixer-upper,โ โmust sell,โ or โas-isโ to find potential leads. Then DM them directly!
Quick Tip: Post your own โWe Buy Housesโ offers consistently to attract inbound leads.
Craigslist 
Best for: Finding FSBOs and distressed landlords.
Craigslistโs “Real Estate for Sale” section still contains hidden gemsโespecially from owners who donโt want to list with agents. Look for signs of distress like bad photos, urgent language, or poor spelling.
Quick Tip: Use the โsearch by ownerโ filter and check multiple cities regularly.
Zillow (FSBO & Pre-Foreclosure) 
Best for: Scraping FSBO and pre-foreclosure leads.
Go to Zillow > โBuyโ > Filter: For Sale By Owner or Foreclosures. Reach out to these owners directly and start building relationships. Many of them are overwhelmed and open to fast offers.
Quick Tip: Look for listings sitting 30+ days on the market with no price drops.
Google My Maps + Driving for Dollars 
Best for: Creating your own local driving routes and tracking vacant homes.
Create a custom map, mark distressed properties you find while driving around, and later organize follow-up. It’s a 100% free way to start building your own motivated seller database!
Combine this with free county assessor websites to look up ownership info.
Local County Public Records 
Best for: Tax delinquents, pre-foreclosures, probate leads.
Every county has public record sites (though they vary by location). These can reveal who is behind on taxes, whoโs going through probate, or who recently inherited a propertyโall signs of a motivated seller.
Pro Tip: Search your local county clerk, recorder, or tax assessorโs website for these lists.
Propwire
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ย Free Tool )
Best for: Pulling nationwide motivated seller lists with zero monthly cost.
Propwire is a completely free alternative to tools like PropStream and BatchLeads. It offers nationwide access to absentee owners, pre-foreclosures, cash buyers, vacant properties, and moreโwithout a subscription fee. Perfect if youโre just getting started or want to stack tools.
Key Features:
100% free data access
Pull and filter motivated seller lists
Skip tracing built-in (paid per lead)
No credit card required
Pro Tip: Use Propwire alongside Facebook and public records to create hybrid lists for high-target outreach.
๐ Top 5 Paid Software for Finding Motivated Sellers
These tools are worth every penny if youโre serious about scaling your real estate investing business.
1๏ธโฃ PropStream ๐
Best for: All-in-one lead generation, comps, and list stacking.
Price: $99/month
Why itโs a game-changer:
PropStream is a data beast. It allows you to pull lists of pre-foreclosures, vacant properties, tax delinquents, and moreโall with filters so you can laser-focus on high-motivation sellers. Plus, you can run comps, skip trace, and even send postcards directly from the platform.
โ Key Features:
Nationwide property data
Filter by motivation level
Built-in marketing tools
Mobile app available
2๏ธโฃ BatchLeads ๐ฑ
Best for: Driving for dollars, SMS campaigns, and skip tracing.
Price: $99โ$299/month depending on tier
BatchLeads shines when it comes to driving for dollars (virtually or in-person) and combining that with SMS campaigns and skip tracing. The interface is smooth, and it offers advanced filtering so you can stack your lists for maximum targeting.
โ Key Features:
High-accuracy skip tracing
Custom tagging and list stacking
Built-in text marketing
Driving for Dollars mobile app
3๏ธโฃ REIPro ๐
Best for: Beginner investors looking for guided deal pipelines.
Price: $109/month
REIPro stands out for its step-by-step lead management system. Itโs like a built-in coach, helping new investors move from lead to deal with a simple-to-follow workflow. Plus, it has direct mail integrations and lead capture tools.
โ Key Features:
Lead management CRM
Direct mail campaigns
MLS comps & contracts
Workflow automation
4๏ธโฃ DealMachine ๐
Best for: Driving for dollars and lead tracking.
Price: $59โ$199/month
Want to turn a drive through town into a goldmine? DealMachine lets you snap photos of properties and instantly pull ownership info. You can send postcards on the spot or create follow-up sequencesโall from your phone.
โ Key Features:
Real-time driving for dollars
Built-in direct mail
CRM & tracking tools
Skip tracing on the go
5๏ธโฃ Privy ๐
Best for: Finding MLS-listed deals and automated comp analysis.
Price: $97/month
Privy helps you find underpriced deals listed on-market in real time. It uses proprietary algorithms to identify properties priced below comps so you can make quick offers with confidence. Works great in competitive metro areas!
โ Key Features:
Live MLS deal alerts
Automated comp analysis
Hot zip code tracking
Deal analyzer tool
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โ ๏ธ Disclaimer
We are not attorneys or financial advisors. The information in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making business or investment decisions.