All real estate investors are on the quest to find deals that nobody else is working on. Instead of focusing on rehabs and flips there are other options available. One of the options is working with a type of motivated sellers: absentee owners. These are out of area of area rental property owners who do not live in the property. In almost every market this is a much bigger niche than you may think. There are several amateur investors who purchased rental property without fully grasping what it takes to be successful. Within a few months they realize they are in over their head and are slowly losing money. They would welcome an opportunity to sell the property and simply move on if they can find a willing buyer. Here is where you come in. With the right type of marketing and approach you can quickly secure a deal you otherwise may not have. If you are looking for a unique niche here are three easy steps to work with absentee owners. Data collection. An absentee owner can be a new investor who purchased rental property before they were fully ready. It can be a homeowner who decided to rent their property while the market is hot. It can even be an investor who decided to dabble in an out of state market. The main theme is that they are all owners of rental property who may be frustrated with the process. Lead generation. Your goal is to turn your data into leads which will ideally turn into deals. There are several different ways to reach your owners depending on the information provided. If you discovered the property while driving for dollars you should knock on the door. When, and if, the tenant answers you should ask for the owner. Assure them that nothing is wrong and you are simply an investor who is considering making an offer on the property. Leave your business card and ask if they have a way to get in touch with the owner. Make offer. Absentee owners are like any other potential seller in that you need to find their motivation. In most cases the answer is pretty straightforward. They are not making as much money with the property as they thought. There is a good chance that they are losing money when you factor in the repairs and seasonal maintenance. Your objective is to get the property for a price that you are comfortable with. This may mean obtaining it through a short sale. At first the owner may scoff at this notion. They will ask you why they would do a short sale if they are breaking even. You need to explain that unless they have ample reserves they are only one major repair from foreclosure. What would they do if the furnace stops working or their tenant suddenly stops paying? In as little as four months a foreclosure can be filled and can stay on their credit report for years. This can do significant long term damage. Absentee owners are a lead generation option you should have in your tool bag. Depending on your market you can decide just how aggressively you want to pursue them