Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by T.J. Fitzgerald
This week’s tip is how to find motivated note sellers without burning hours on lists that never convert.
The people who actually sell are rarely the ones sitting on a perfectly performing note they love. They are the ones facing a change they did not plan for—an estate that needs to be settled, a divorce that requires a clean split, a move out of state, or simple fatigue with collecting payments. Those situations create urgency. Urgency is what turns a holder into a seller.
I learned this the hard way years ago when I spent weeks chasing notes that looked good on paper but belonged to owners who had no reason to sell. The deals that closed came from people who had already decided they wanted the cash now. One seller had inherited a small first-position note and wanted nothing to do with servicing it. Another needed liquidity after a job change. Both were easy conversations because the motivation was already there.
In 2026 the same pattern holds. Start with sources that surface those life events: probate filings, divorce records, and attorneys who handle estates or family law. Realtors who work with sellers carrying paper can also point you toward holders who would rather cash out than wait. Direct mail still works when the list is tight and the message is simple: you buy performing notes and close quickly.
Once you have a name, the conversation is straightforward. Ask how they acquired the note, whether they still want to hold it, and what a clean cash offer would need to look like. Most motivated sellers already know the remaining balance and payment history. Your job is to confirm the collateral and the payment record, then make a fair offer. Results vary by note and by market, so run the numbers with your own advisor before you commit.
If you want ready-to-work lists instead of building them from scratch, visit noteinvestors.com/leads. For the full process of turning those conversations into fees or small purchases, see noteinvestors.com/broker-opportunity. The upcoming Note Investing Formulas program will walk through the exact screening and pricing steps.
IN THE “HOW TO TURN 90%..” PROGRAM, YOU WILL LEARN:
