Buyers with specific needs like a home or condo in a specific neighborhood, owner financing, or a particular kind of property may have more success by expanding beyond the traditional Realtor MLS listings. Below are three ways you can partner with your Real Estate Agent to find what you are looking for in any market.

When you are ready to buy your next property, the best place to start is your local MLS, or Multiple Listing Service. Exclusive to licensed Real Estate Agents, your local MLS is the most comprehensive and accurate real estate listing information available. However, sometimes the property you want is not showing up in the MLS. Below are three ways you can work with your Real Estate Agent to purchase properties not listed in the MLS.

1. Target the Neighborhood You Want.
If you want a house in a certain area or neighborhood, or a condo in a particular complex your Agent can write and send a "I have a buyer" letter. This is a simple letter or postcard, informing owners that your Agent has a buyer specifically interested in their complex or neighborhood. The response rate is better for this kind of mailing than it is for more general mailings. Potential sellers who respond can sign a "single party listing agreement" with your agent and that protects your relationship and allows you to view the property and decide if it is one you want free of any obligation.

2. Target Expired Listings.
People who tried to sell their house but did not may still want to sell to a qualified, interested buyer. Often listings expire because the price was too high, but after sitting on the market for some time the seller may be closer to market price. Search expired listings (3 - 6 months expired). Drive by the properties if possible, and target the ones you would most want to purchase. Ask your agent to write a Letter of Intent to purchase the property for fair market value, and send that letter to the owner. Follow up to find out if they are interested.
3. Target For Sale By Owners

Websites that list houses For Sale By Owner have taken off in the past decade. Owners.com, fsbo.com and forsalebyowner.com are just a few of the many sites available for buyers to view. Some of the listings on these sites are also listed in the MLS as active or expired listings, but some are only available through these sites. Even if the owner/seller does not want to pay an Agent's commission, you can write the contract as a buyer to cover the commission costs yourself, and therefore enjoy the help and protection of a Real Estate Agent even while purchasing a home sold directly by the owner. Another possible perk of For Sale By Owner properties is the potential for owner financing. An owner may not need full payment of his equity immediately, and may be happy to make some interest off of that money over time. This allows you to finance more of the purchase and create a win-win with the seller.

If you are in the market to purchase real estate and what you are looking for is not coming up on the MLS, you now have 3 additional ways to locate and purchase the property you want. Happy House Hunting!