I am located in south Florida, and I just started 3 months ago in Real Estate. I decided to start in rentals.

The rental market here is on fire, extremely competitive right now. The best and decent listings stay on the market an average of just 10 to 15 days, if not less. A nice house that gets listed on the MLS, 4 days later can have an average of 30 prospective tenants looked at that property.

It has been very frustrating to work with prospective tenants though, because they are too indecisive, not realistic or don't have the full money to move in (first, last and security). I have wasted a lot of time with leads that they disappear after I spent lot of time searching properties for them. Of course I qualify them first on the phone before showing them properties, but anyways, lot of people lie, or just don't value my time and disappear without replying messages, texts or returning calls.

I think that the best would be to get rental listings, I don't know really how to get them. I ask in my board if I can reach homeowners that are trying to sell their home for more than 3 months with any success and to offer them to rent it. It's like calling to "FSBO'S" but instead of listing for sell, is listed for rent.

If someone can give me good ideas in getting rental listings and ways to convince homeowners to list them with me, I would highly appreciate it!!

"Expired Vacant Homes" might be a possibility; but when an Owner "lives" in the property, you have to provide an exit strategy. They can't very well turn over control to a Tenant unless the Owners have a place to move to. Without that missing ingredient, you're just spinning your wheels.

On "Active Retail Listings", I doubt that any Listing Agent is going to encourage you to approach their Client about renting the Subject property out . . . . they can do that themselves, and very few will want another Cook in the Kitchen. So unless Florida Agents are completely different from Agents elsewhere, I think you'll find a complete lack of enthusiasm for this approach among them. What would the Referral Fee be? ¼ of one month's rent? I don't think that will garner much help.

Renting only complicates the selling process. Besides, you normally want the property under the control of just one Agent, either it's For Sale, or it's For Rent. People start tripping over one another when it's both.

A "Hot" Rental Market probably means most Landlords don't really need to pay an Agent to find Tenants . . . . they probably need "Screeners".

Perhaps you could contact the Collections Officers at your local Banks and ask "IF" they would consider renting out "short term" any of the REO Inventory, and keep it occupied while they wait to dispose of it. Just remember, ultimately they will want to sell it . . . . and Not be a permanent Landlord. But don't be surprised if the majority of the Banks have their own internal department, well-skilled in performing this function, and within legal guidelines.

Good Luck.

I have done mailings to absentee owner's. I pull the info from the tax database.

Expired MLS listings are my number one source.