I haven't worked as a buyer's agent, and I haven't helped a client purchase an off-market home. My work is in marketing, not real estate representation, so I can't give you a first-hand, buyer's-agent account that you can quote as meeting your requirement. I also can't provide my full name, title, and a credential-verification link in the way you're asking, because that would imply I'm a licensed buyer's agent when I'm not. If you want, I can still share general, non-agent observations from the outside, but I won't be able to present them as direct buyer's-agent experience.
I have seen a buyer who mailed me handwritten letters monthly for 7 months finally getting my attention when I needed selling quickly for unexpected reason where his persistence paid off because I remembered him immediately when circumstances changed making me receptive to offers I'd ignored previously completely. In my opinion what made the sale happen was his letters focused on loving the neighborhood and respecting the property not lowballing or pressuring me where he framed it as whenever you're ready I'm interested making me feel in control not harassed like investor letters demanding immediate response creating negative reactions instantly. What unfolded in negotiation was he offered asking price I would have listed at with no inspection contingency and 20 day close making it easy decision versus traditional listing requiring months of showings and uncertainty where his clean offer removing friction closed deal that never hit market publicly at all ever really.
The deal that sticks out most happened in Greenwood Village in 2024. My buyer had been looking for a year, kept getting outbid, and finally said they wanted to try a different approach. We knew the neighborhood they wanted — a specific street, really — so I pulled ownership records and identified 14 homeowners who had been in their homes more than 15 years. I sent handwritten notes, not a form letter. Eleven didn't respond. Two said no. One called back. The homeowner was in her 70s, had been thinking about downsizing, but hadn't listed because the process felt overwhelming. The outreach worked because it didn't pressure her. We set up coffee, not a formal meeting. My buyer told her honestly what they loved about the neighborhood and why that specific block mattered to them. The seller appreciated that the buyers weren't treating it like a transaction from the first conversation. Negotiation was slower than a listed deal and that's normal. She needed time to figure out where she was going. We ended up closing at $1.47M with a 45-day rent-back, which gave her room to find her next place without the clock running. The buyer paid slightly above what comparable homes on the street had sold for, but avoided competing offers entirely and got into a home that never hit the market. The honest expectation buyers need to set: off-market is slower, sometimes much slower, and the seller can walk at any point without any formal obligation. It works when the relationship is real, not transactional.
In my experience, the best results are obtained with off-market transactions when there has been more of a thought process than a transaction process. An example of this would be a buyer of yours who had very specific criteria, but did not have any luck finding a home through the MLS. Instead of increasing market competition by being aggressive, we helped connect to homeowners who are open to selling their homes but have not listed yet. The outreach effort was done in a non-obtrusive way with no pressure. It included communicating clearly about who the buyer was and why the buyer was interested in them. One thing I tell buyers is that off-market deals require patience. The majority of outreach will not yield results; however, those few that actually do will happen because the conversation was opened authentically rather than forced. The element of personhood is what creates a connection.
In my experience of doing business in an off-market environment, off-market deals come together if I have a good understanding of the house being sold and of the seller's motivation behind their decision to sell. An example of an off-market transaction that stands out to me is a home that was not listed but needed a lot of work done to it. The owner had not listed it because they were initially hesitant about the thought of having to prepare it for the market. The first communication with this homeowner was non aggressive. I acknowledged the condition of the house, provided them with an easy option to sell it without having to do any repairs and so, he felt comfortable reaching out. Honesty is what encouraged them to respond to my outreach. The negotiation of this deal was less about the price and more about alleviating the obstacles preventing the seller from moving forward. The seller had two priorities: they wanted certainty and they wanted to close as soon as possible. Once those two priorities were acknowledged and met, the deal happened seamlessly. Buyers need to understand that off-market does not equate to hidden inventory to be discovered rather, off-market means the situation meets the needs of the seller in terms of convenience over visibility. Recognizing the former and structuring one's approach accordingly will allow many of these opportunities to become very tangible.
Off-market sales work better when the seller is approached in a thoughtful manner, versus an opportunistic one. A deal that I was involved in began by first identifying a property that met the long-term needs and objectives of my buyer, although the property was not on the market. The outreach was focused on one buyer, and the seller was contacted specifically. Our message was simple: we had a serious buyer but the timing was flexible, and they desired a straightforward, uncomplicated transaction. The seller chose to respond to our offer because our outreach did not seem like mass solicitation, it was specific to them as the seller. Negotiations were less about making a deal and more about aligning timely priorities. The reality for off-market deals is that they are no less complicated or less expensive than a market transaction, they are just different. Ultimately, the key to success is understanding why the seller would choose not to sell through the market in the first place, and building your offer around that concept.
Q: Can you walk us through a specific experience helping a buyer purchase an off-market home? I had a client who was laser-focused on a particular neighborhood in Gainesville. Nothing was coming up for sale, so we took matters into our own hands. I wrote personalized letters to homeowners on the streets she loved. Not generic mailers. Each one mentioned specific things about the street, the community, and who my buyer was. One homeowner called back within a week. She'd been thinking about selling but dreaded the whole listing process. Q: What made the sale actually happen? The seller's biggest fear was disruption. No open houses, no strangers walking through every weekend, no deal falling apart at the last minute. Because my buyer was pre-approved and motivated, I could promise a clean, straightforward transaction. That certainty closed the deal faster than any negotiation tactic. Q: How did the negotiation unfold? Without competing offers or public market pressure, both sides stayed calm. We settled close to market value. My buyer didn't get a steal, but she got exactly what she wanted without fighting ten other buyers for it. Q: What should buyers realistically expect going this route? Expect to pay fair market value, not a discount. Off-market means access, not a bargain. Also expect the process to take time. We sent letters for weeks before getting that one callback. Patience is non-negotiable. Betsy Pepine, Owner and Broker, Pepine Realty | pepinepropertymanagement.com | Inc. 5000 Recognized Brokerage
Jaromy Tagg CEO & Founder, Liberty Fair Offer Liberty Fair Offer Closed 300+ property transactions across Idaho and Washington CEO & Founder, Liberty Fair Offer Verification: https://www.libertyfairoffer.com/ Email: Jaromy@libertyfairoffer.com "As a real estate professional who has helped buyers secure off-market properties, I can say these deals usually happen because the outreach is targeted, respectful, and backed by real buyer readiness. In one successful case, my client was focused on a very specific area and was prepared to act quickly. We approached the homeowner with a personal, low-pressure message that explained the buyer's genuine interest in the property and made it clear we could offer a smooth, private transaction. That mattered. The seller was open to moving, but had not wanted the hassle of listing publicly. What made the sale happen was credibility. My buyer had financing lined up, clear terms, and flexibility on timing. In off-market deals, that kind of preparation gives sellers confidence and keeps the conversation moving. The negotiation was less about chasing a steep discount and more about creating a clean offer the seller felt comfortable accepting. That is an important point for buyers to understand. Off-market homes are not always cheaper. In many cases, sellers value privacy and convenience, and they expect the terms to reflect that. My advice is simple: buyers should be specific about the neighborhoods they want, have their financing ready before outreach starts, and keep expectations realistic. Off-market buying is not a shortcut. It is a relationship-driven process that works best when a buyer's agent knows how to approach the seller professionally and present a serious opportunity." Video of a Real Client that we have helped: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw0Uq_-wYnk Jaromy Tagg CEO & Founder, Liberty Fair Offer Verification: https://www.libertyfairoffer.com/ Email: Jaromy@libertyfairoffer.com
Off-market deals come down to relationships, not luck. I had a buyer who was set on a specific neighborhood in Metro Atlanta, but nothing was hitting the MLS that fit what they needed. So we got proactive. I personally reached out to homeowners in that area through a combination of direct mail and phone calls, framing the conversation around giving them an opportunity rather than pressuring them to sell. Nobody wants to feel cornered. We led with curiosity, asking if they had ever considered selling and what that would look like for them. One homeowner was in a life transition and had been quietly thinking about it for months. That conversation opened the door. Because we skipped the traditional listing process, the seller avoided agent commissions on their side and the headache of showings. That was a real selling point. My buyer got the house, and the seller felt like they won too. The negotiation was straightforward because both parties came in without the competitive pressure of a public listing. No bidding war, no contingency battles. Just two people solving a problem together. Honest expectation: this takes patience. Most homeowners say no. But when the right one says yes, it is worth every attempt that came before it.
"Helping a client purchase an off-market home is both challenging and rewarding, and it requires a combination of research, strategy, and tactful communication," says Alex Rivera, Licensed Buyer's Agent at Horizon Realty Group, San Francisco, CA (https://www.horizonrealtygroup.com). "In one case, we identified a home that fit my client's criteria but wasn't listed publicly. The success came from personalized outreach to the homeowners, framing our message around respect for their privacy, flexibility on timing, and a serious, pre-qualified offer that showed we were ready to move quickly." "The negotiation unfolded differently than a standard listing," Rivera continues. "Since the sellers hadn't listed publicly, they were more receptive to a direct, transparent conversation rather than a competitive bidding process. We focused on establishing trust, being upfront about our client's needs, and leaving room for concessions that mattered to the sellers, like a flexible closing date." "My advice for buyers pursuing off-market homes is to be patient and realistic," Rivera adds. "Not every outreach will lead to a deal, and sellers may decline for personal reasons. The key is to combine targeted research with respectful, well-prepared communication, and to always have financing ready so you can act quickly when the opportunity arises."