If you’ve been around real estate investing long enough, you’ve heard: “Oh yeah, I work with tons of investors.” Most of the time, that just means they once helped someone buy a rental by accident. The truth is that a lot of agents don’t understand what makes a good investment. And I know that because…I used to be one of them.
When I first got my real estate license eight years ago, I had no idea what cash flow meant. They don’t teach you anything about investing in real estate school. I was just trying to learn the contracts, not how to run numbers or find deals with equity upside.
Then, one day, out of nowhere, I got an email from an investor asking if I worked with investors. I had no idea what that involved, but of course, I said yes. Spoiler: I had no idea what exactly investors needed from a real estate agent.
But that one message opened my eyes. I went down the BiggerPockets rabbit hole and realized just how much I didn’t know. So, I began learning everything I could about what makes a good deal, what investors need, and how I could become a more valuable resource.
I’m saying that to make this point: When an agent says they’re investor-friendly, don’t just take their word for it. Ask questions and dig a little bit. Figure out if they’ve really done this before or if they’re just hoping you’ll be their first shot.
The good news? You don’t need a ton of questions to figure it out. Just five solid ones will do the trick.
1. What’s Your Strategy When Making Offers in Today’s Market?
If their answer sounds like something they’d say to a first-time homebuyer, that’s not a good sign. A great agent should know how to structure offers that are effective in the current market climate. That might mean asking for seller credits, finding ways to negotiate favorable terms, or knowing how to act quickly when the right deal becomes available. If they freeze at the question, they probably haven’t been doing much for investors lately.
2. Can You Walk Me Through a Recent Deal You Closed With an Investor?
This one separates the talkers from the doers. A solid agent will walk you through the numbers, explain the investor’s strategy, and maybe even show you how the deal penciled out. If they can’t name a recent example or they get weirdly vague, you might be their test case.
3. What Neighborhoods or ZIP Codes Would You Recommend for My Strategy, and Why?
This question tells you how well they understand your goals. Are they giving you trendy answers, or can they back it up with data? You want to hear them discuss rental comps, zoning changes, or buyer demand in specific areas of the city. Bonus points if they mention something you haven’t heard yet.
4. How Do You Help Your Clients Find Deals With Cash Flow or Equity Upside?
Do they just send over MLS listings and say, “Let me know if anything looks good”? Or do they dig deeper, run numbers, and help you spot opportunities that might be getting overlooked? If they’re not at least doing some light analysis or showing you ways to add value, you might be doing all the work yourself.
5. Have You Personally Invested in Real Estate?
Not a requirement, but it helps. Agents who have owned rentals, done a flip, or even house hacked understand the process in a way others don’t. They’ve lived the stress. They’ve made the rookie mistakes. And they know why you care about things like repair estimates and neighborhood turnover rates. If they’ve been in your shoes, they’re way more likely to help you make smart decisions.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the bottom line: Some agents are investor-friendly. They’ve done the homework, closed deals, and know how to bring real value to your investing journey. Others are just saying what they think you want to hear. These five questions will help you tell the difference.
And if you don’t want to play 20 questions with every agent in your inbox, you can use the BiggerPockets Agent Finder. It’s a quick, free tool that connects you with agents who already understand what you’re trying to do—no awkward explanations required.
The right agent doesn’t just open doors. They help you build something. Make sure you’ve got the right one in your corner.
Ready to succeed in real estate investing? Create a free BiggerPockets account to learn about investment strategies; ask questions and get answers from our community of +2 million members; connect with investor-friendly agents; and so much more.
