10 Best States & Cities for Real Estate Wholesaling (2025 Markets Statistics)

When I talk to new real estate investors in Texas who want to wholesale real estate, my first piece of advice is always this: focus on building a strong disposition list.

In other words, build real relationships with true cash buyers who are ready to purchase houses.

A great wholesale deal on paper means nothing if you cannot assign it or close with someone who has the funds.

The biggest roadblock I see for beginners is that they get very good at talking to homeowners and putting properties under contract, but they hit a wall when it comes to moving those deals.

They lock up a property and then realize they have nobody lined up to buy it. That is when frustration sets in. Think about the full cycle of wholesaling, not just the first step.

Yes, you need to know how to negotiate with sellers, but you also need to be able to pick up the phone and call a verified cash buyer who trusts you and wants to buy.

If you build a cash buyer list from day one, you will never be stuck holding a contract you cannot move.

In Texas, the market is large and competitive, but there are plenty of investors looking for deals.

The ones who succeed are those who can consistently match motivated seller leads with serious buyers. That matchmaking ability is what makes a wholesaler valuable.

— Patrick Schultz, Uncle Tex Buys Houses, Co-Founder

If you’re brand-new to wholesaling here in Missouri, I’d start by encouraging you to be upfront and honest with sellers — they can tell when you’re trying to cut corners, and that never ends well for your reputation.

One of my most valuable lessons was realizing how quickly word spreads in the St. Louis community; a single deal where I didn’t explain my role created confusion that made future deals harder to land.

Be clear about your intentions, follow through on your promises, and treat every interaction like it’s the start of a long-term relationship — that’s what sets you apart in this business.

— Chris Kirshenboim, Chris Buys Homes in St. Louis, Founder & President

If you’re thinking about getting into wholesaling in New Jersey, here’s what I always tell folks over coffee: paperwork and relationships are everything — seriously, sometimes the whole deal rests on a detail you didn’t even know existed.

For example, I once worked with a brand-new investor down in Camden County. He was over the moon about this rowhouse he’d found, already imagining his first assignment fee.

Fast forward a bit, and two weeks before closing, a random lien from 1993 popped up in the title search. Honest to God, nobody saw that coming — not even the seller.

We spent another month just tracking down the right person at the township to clear it, and there was more than one night that kid was ready to walk away.

I guess it’s one of those “welcome to Jersey” moments — these older homes always hide surprises, so I can’t stress enough, run your title searches early, buddy up with a sharp real estate attorney (since New Jersey is an attorney state, they’re worth their weight in gold), and double-check that your assignment contract has the seller’s written consent.

That last part isn’t optional here, and you definitely don’t want to learn about that after the fact.

Average wholesale assignment fees around here usually land somewhere in the two to four percent range, but, honestly, it’s not the fees that’ll trip you up — it’s the paperwork tangles and legal curveballs that sneak up and swallow your margin whole.

I’ve seen more deals in Jersey die because of contract slips or title hiccups than because the price was off.

So here’s the bit I keep coming back to, and honestly, it’s the line that sticks: In Jersey wholesaling, deals usually die on paper before they ever die on price.

If you stay ahead on your docs and keep your team in the loop, you’re already ahead of the curve — even when the eleventh-hour surprises start landing.

— Dominic Kalvelis, We Buy NJ Homes Fast, Owner

Find good leads that have a motivated seller. Have a good assignment contract that clearly marks out your objectives and do not deceive the seller.

Show you are ethical and a professional and you are confident in what you are doing.

— Marty Morrison, Property Bridge Solutions, Owner

It’s crucial to really know your market — especially if you’re selling to a consumer buyer or end user rather than another investor.

In NH, for instance, the market has been fluctuating, which can make it harder to wholesale for a strong profit if conditions shift in the weeks or months ahead.

— Allyssa Guerin, Lamacchia Realty, Realtor

Find a niche. You’ll have much more luck if you focus on a specific type of property, since you’ll be able to move those properties to the same buyers repeatedly.

Vacation rentals, suburban family homes, and especially retirement homes are good niches to target.

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the market right now around insurance in particular. High-risk homes in flood zones are probably not worth getting into.

— Martin Orefice, Rent To Own Labs, CEO

Start by getting up to speed on your state’s contract laws. California has clear legal requirements on assignment clauses, and municipalities often have disclosure requirements too.

Before you get to the part where you are sending contracts, speak with a California real estate attorney who practices in your area and has a track record.

Investors coming into the wholesale market of California should be aware of the fact that our state has a very strict regulation structure as compared with other markets.

When a wholesaler is not licensed yet trades in properties, he/she may be fined up to $20,000 and legal expenses. Such is not only a warning but the enforcement of these rules follows a steady stream.

There are three master legal structures that will make you successful: contract assignments, buy-and-sell agreements, and doubles.

The greatest lesson is: get a real estate license. The limitations are removed after you get licensed and you can freely market properties.

The reason why many investors are afraid is that they believe that getting a real estate license in California will complicate their lives whereas it relieves them.

I have worked on dozens of deals that licensed wholesalers had an opportunity that unlicensed colleagues did not. The licensing requirement is not a penalty — it is your competitive edge.

— Jimmy Fuentes, California Hard Money Lender, Consultant

One game-changing insight I’d share is how important it is to truly understand the value quirks in each Vegas neighborhood.

I’ve seen new wholesalers trip up using cookie-cutter comps across Summerlin and Downtown, when local knowledge would’ve made those deals profitable.

In this city, understanding what makes each street unique can be your biggest asset.

For new wholesalers in Nevada, I’d recommend immersing yourself in the Las Vegas market dynamics first — what works in other states often doesn’t translate here due to our unique property values and investor expectations.

— Nick Elo, Fast Vegas Home Buyers, Founder

The most important aspect to successfully wholesale as a newbie is to properly underwrite the deal.

In Michigan, specifically the metro areas, you can assign a deal with 75% ARV — repairs — wholesale fee.

For ARV, take the lowest one as your reference point and for repairs, add an extra 10k to the total repair costs.

That way, you’re still able to sell the deal and not leave the seller hoping for a closing that never happens which is completely wrong and unprofessional.

Lastly, make sure you’re in an area with a large population. If you’re in the rural area, it’ll be much more difficult to find a buyer.

— Sergio Aguinaga, Michigan Houses For Cash, Owner

Being in the Phoenix real estate game for more than 20 years, my number one tip for anyone who’s just beginning in wholesaling is to learn about your local market.

Don’t merely concentrate on the figures. Carefully observe neighborhoods, property prices, and what purchasers are searching for.

Wholesaling takes more than merely buying low and selling high. It is simply matching up passionate sellers with the right buyers within a short period.

Building strong relationships with other Arizona real estate investors, realtors, and contractors will help you carry out deals smoothly.

— John Gluch, Gluch Group, Broker/Owner

For those in Iowa — and Des Moines particularly — my number one piece of advice would be to focus on building your cash buyer list, not so much the volume.

A new wholesaler that gets traction vs one who flames out in 6 months is being focused on solving problems of actual investors, not just throwing deals to the wind.

I would first and foremost tell them to focus on relationships and not contracts.

Wholesaling in Iowa, and in Des Moines in particular, is less about having the most clever assignment paperwork and more about understanding who will close a deal.

Iowa title companies are wary, and some Iowa real estate agents don’t trust wholesalers. I usually say this to newbies: if you can sit down with three local investors around coffee and they’d be willing to call you tomorrow, you are ready to rock.

I’ve watched WAY too many want-to-be wholesalers blast out lists of distressed properties with not a single buyer lined up.

The deals get bogged down, sellers get annoyed, and reputations take a hit. A beginner student I taught, however, took three months to land his first deal, but when he did he had a committed buyer, and the deal sealed easily — the foundation was more important than speed.

— Jacob Naig, We Buy Houses in Des Moines, Owner

If you’re just getting started with wholesaling in Wisconsin, I’d urge you to spend real time listening to sellers’ needs rather than rushing to lock up deals.

Sometimes, just showing up with empathy and patience leads to opportunities that numbers alone won’t reveal.

One key insight I wish I’d appreciated sooner: your reputation travels faster than any marketing campaign, so treat every seller as if they could make—or break—your future business.

Word-of-mouth referrals from well-treated clients have brought me more quality real estate leads than any other strategy.

— Mac Sullivan, Stillwater Properties, Founder & President

I’d advise new wholesalers to specialize in South Carolina manufactured homes — they’re crucial for solving our affordable housing shortage and often have highly motivated sellers needing quick solutions.

Understand that mobile home deals require unique due diligence on land leases and relocation logistics; we’ve closed 150+ transactions by mastering these nuances and offering flexible closing options that address sellers’ emotional ties to their homes.

— Ian Smith, We Buy SC Mobile Homes, Co-Founder

The most impactful insight I’d share is that relationships will make or break you here more than in almost any other state.

Whether you’re in Texas, Florida, or Ohio, the ones who last are also the ones who concentrate on building long-term trust with sellers, buyers, and other wholesalers.

You can get in the door with numbers on a deal, but your reputation will keep opportunities coming.

I worked with one of the clients who always closed assignments, not because he offered the deepest discounts every time, but because the buyers knew he delivered clean deals and never wasted their time.

If you approach wholesaling as relationship-building rather than just transaction-chasing, you’ll find yourself standing out in any market.

— Evan Harlow, Maui Elite Property, Real Estate Agent

If you’re new to wholesaling in North Carolina, my top advice is to nail your lead follow-up system — deals often come from consistent, friendly check-ins rather than your first call.

One lesson that changed my business early on: speed matters! The faster you can run numbers, draft your offers, and communicate with buyers and sellers, the more opportunities you’ll unlock.

So set up templates and processes from day one to help you move quickly and stay organized, even if you’re working remotely like I do.

— Jasper Cool, Bright Home Offer, Founder

I would advise a new investor to contact the real estate commission in the state where they are interested in wholesaling before beginning wholesaling activities to get clarity on the laws and regulations of the state so they don’t inadvertently do something illegal.

It is important that new investors understand the risks of wholesaling without a real estate license.

Many states, including Arkansas and Oklahoma, consider wholesaling to be an activity that requires a real estate license.

For example, a wholesaler puts a property under contract and immediately begins marketing the property for sale to other buyers/investors with the intent to sell or assign the contract to a new buyer.

Even if the seller agrees to allow the wholesaler to market the property for sale prior to closing, this is considered a licensed activity in many states, similar to when a real estate agent lists a property for sale.

— Jamie Crouch, Home Adventure Real Estate, Principal Broker/Owner

As a person who is new to wholesaling in Tennessee, I would not advise them to begin with contracts or buyers.

I would also advise them to invest two weeks in understanding how other counties such as Hamilton, Bradley, and Rutherford organize the public information.

Each city has its own pace and rhythm, but unless you can pull property records, sale history and lien status on your own, you are at the mercy of third-party lists that all other wholesalers are calling. You have to be five steps ahead on day one.

What new wholesalers frequently fail to understand is the extent to which this is time driven. I have witnessed transactions in Chattanooga go belly-up because a title check was not made within 48 hours.

Unless you are taking every lead as though someone is going to lock it up in the next hour, you are going to lose.

Speed is about being able to know your process inside out and not running around once you get a yes. Most are not taught that until it hurts them.

— Todd Stephenson, Roof Quotes, Co-Founder

If you’re new to wholesaling in Georgia, I’d tell you to start by building strong relationships with Georgia real estate agents — they can be your biggest allies in finding off-market properties and connecting you with serious buyers.

— Paul Myers, Myers House Buyers, Founder

If you’re just starting out wholesaling, I’d suggest shadowing a seasoned Washington real estate investor to see how contracts and negotiations actually come together — book knowledge is helpful, but nothing substitutes for real conversations with sellers.

— Jeremy Schooler, Kitsap Home Pro, Founder

One of the best strategies is to know what your local flippers are actually looking for. For example, a lot of Cleveland real estate investors I work with are targeting properties in neighborhoods like Maple Heights, Garfield Heights, and Parma where resale demand is strong and renovated homes move quickly.

Real estate investors in Ohio typically want solid ARV potential with room for renovations that appeal to retail buyers such as updated kitchens, bathrooms, and modern layouts.

If you can understand their buy boxes upfront and bring them deals that hit their numbers, you will move contracts much faster and build trust with repeat buyers.

— Nick Kuang, Home Sweet Home Offers, Co-Founder

Massachusetts wholesaling rewards fast, clean execution. The first thing I check is whether the seller is actually decision-ready.

Who’s on title? Any probate? Any condo association approvals? One thing I always notice is that winter slows access. Plan lockbox installs and heat-on showings, or you’ll lose a week.

Run conservative numbers on triple-deckers: 70% of ARV minus repairs and fees is a solid rule of thumb in Boston.

Keep the earnest money small ($100-$500) until the title is clear, and schedule the inspection for 5-7 business days.

What matters most to me is having a clear path to close, with a real estate attorney, title company in Massachusetts, and buyers lined up before marketing the deal.

The takeaway: Speed is an edge only when paperwork is airtight.

— Adrian Iorga, 617 Boston Movers, Founder

The biggest insight is to know your numbers. Do not count on appreciation. Buyers want deals that make sense today.

You need to get Illinois properties under market value so buyers can get a return. If you bring real deals, people will trust you and keep working with you.

Your first deals might be in lower-priced areas. That is fine. Over time, aim for better deals and nicer properties.

— Don Wede, Heartland Funding, CEO

Wholesale deals live or die on accurate valuation. Too many new investors guess at numbers or rely on surface comps.

In Louisville, one street can change value dramatically. Get your pricing wrong and buyers won’t touch your contract.

Nail the numbers and you’ll earn repeat buyers who trust you. That accuracy and the discipline to walk away from a deal that doesn’t work sets apart those who last from those who fade out.

— Jimmy Welch, The Jimmy Welch Team, President

If you’re new to wholesaling in New York, I’d advise you to really dig into your local market — physically drive neighborhoods in the Hudson Valley, and get a feel for which areas have motivated sellers.

— Nicolas Martucci, Hudson Valley Cash Buyers, Owner

For new investors looking to wholesale in Maryland, I’d advise taking the time to really understand how distressed property deals work in our market — closings often come with unique seller circumstances, so patience and flexibility are huge advantages.

Don’t just rely on email or texts — early in my career, I started doing in-person walkthroughs and found it built immediate trust with sellers, which made even the toughest deals possible.

If you focus on being clear, attentive, and willing to solve sellers’ real problems, you’ll earn their trust — and deals others miss.

— Joe Hartman, Perry Hall Investment Group, Managing Member

The most significant realization is that laws pertaining to wholesaling differ greatly and are becoming stricter everywhere, including here.

Many new investors believe that wholesaling is just marketing and contract assignment, but if you’re not careful, it can turn into “acting as a broker without a license” in many states.

Understanding the legal limits and arranging your transactions within them safeguards not only your company but also your reputation, which is ultimately your most valuable asset.

— Chad Phillis, Checkmate Rentals, Founder & CEO

For new investors looking to wholesale in Alabama, I’d strongly advise focusing on understanding your “why” — why are you interested in this, and what real value can you bring to a seller or buyer?

Maintaining integrity and transparency with everyone you interact with isn’t just good ethics; it’s good business.

In our market, word travels fast, and being known for honesty and clarity will bring you more opportunities than any slick sales pitch ever could.

— Chris Mignone, Madison County House Buyers, Owner

The number one thing that I would advise a new investor who is planning to wholesale real estate in Colorado is to learn the percentages for getting discount properties under contract.

In major areas like Denver Metro and Colorado Springs, the formula for making offers is 80% of market value minus repairs minus your wholesale fee.

I see too many newbie wholesalers forget to get the proper discounts, and they are trying to market thin deals.

Always overestimate your repair budget. Add at least 15% onto your repair estimate so that you have some extra padding on the deal, because it will take you a few years to get good at estimating rehab costs unless you have an extensive background in construction.

— Brian Rudderow, HBR Colorado, Real Estate Investor