Buyers receive new advice for finding good home deals in 2026

Buying a home in 2026 has become one of the most difficult financial decisions Americans face. Mortgage rates have climbed back into the 6.3 to 6.5% range, home prices remain elevated in most high-demand markets, and buyer demand has slowed as uncertainty weighs on consumer sentiment. All of this has created a market where good deals feel increasingly rare.

Amid this, real estate investor Jesse Walters has built a portfolio of nearly 30 rental units in just five years by doing what most buyers are told is impossible - finding undervalued properties in a challenging market. Walters appeared on Monday's episode of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast to break down the exact strategies he uses to find deals, many of which apply to anyone buying a home in 2026, not just investors.

"Everyone is telling you real estate is impossible to buy in 2026. Prices are too high. Rates are too unpredictable," said BiggerPockets host Henry Washington in the episode's opening.

Yet as Washington also noted, Walters is scaling his portfolio even under those conditions, and the framework he uses is one that his co-host Dave Meyer described as "a model that pretty much everyone can replicate."

BiggerPockets' advice on finding home deals in a tough market

At the core of Walters' approach is a simple principle that good deals come from sources most buyers overlook. His portfolio has been built through a combination of direct mail campaigns, relationships with real estate agents, and off-market listings that never reach the broader public.

Walters told the BiggerPockets hosts that he bought five properties in 2025 alone through postcard campaigns sent directly to potential sellers. The rest came through referrals from agents who know Walters is ready to buy, can close quickly, and will pay a full commission.

"Typically what's happening is these agents, they get a listing, these houses need a bunch of work," Walters said. "They don't want to put them on the market because they're going to be a hassle. They know what I do and they're very transparent with me. This is what it is. This is the amount of money they need to get out of this thing."

More on housing market and home prices:

• Zillow sends blunt message about affordability, housing market
• Redfin sees shift in home prices, housing market
• Home-buying costs are 4 times what buyers expect

The result is a steady stream of properties that never appear on Zillow, Redfin, or the MLS - homes where sellers are motivated, agents want to move quickly, and competition from other buyers is minimal. For any buyer willing to build similar relationships, Walters' framework opens up an inventory of homes most people never see.

His story also emphasizes a broader point made throughout the BiggerPockets episode. The buyers and investors succeeding in the 2026 housing market aren't waiting for conditions to improve, but are instead adapting their process to the conditions that exist today.

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Relationships with real estate agents are key in 2026 housing market

The key insight from Walters' approach isn't just that off-market deals exist, which most investors and everyday homebuyers already know, it's that they go to buyers who have intentionally made themselves the first call for motivated agents.

Walters explained that he pays agents their full 3% commission on every deal, even when he's representing himself as the buyer. He doesn't negotiate it down, doesn't push for discounts, and doesn't treat the agent relationship as transactional.

"I don't even negotiate their commission or anything," Walters said "I'm going to work in the 3% commission for you right off the top."

The philosophy, as Henry Washington explained in the episode, is about creating mutual benefit. This principle can apply as much to traditional homebuyers as it does to investors.

"Agents want to be able to get paid for the hard work that they put in. They want to be able to close quickly, and they want their sellers to end up happy," Washington said. "If you can speak to them in the language that makes the most sense to them, they're going to remember that they want to work with you."

This follows the well-known mantra that real estate is a relationship-first business. Those who prioritize this will be better positioned to land good deals than those with a strictly transactional lens. For traditional homebuyers, this translates to being pre-approved, flexible on closing timelines, and ready to act when an agent calls with a potential match. Walters noted that only about one in 10 offers he makes is accepted, meaning the process also requires volume, patience, and consistent outreach.

Key takeaways on finding home deals in 2026

• Off-market properties can outperform public listings: Many of the best deals never reach Zillow, Redfin, or the MLS. Instead, they go directly from motivated sellers to buyers with strong agent relationships.
• Direct mail is a proven source of deals: Walters bought five properties in 2025 through postcard campaigns sent to potential sellers, a tactic that works for motivated buyers in any market.
• Paying full agent commissions creates repeat opportunities: Walters pays agents their full 3% commission on every deal, building a reputation that keeps him as the first call when off-market opportunities appear.
• Speed and reliability matter more than price negotiation: Agents with motivated sellers prioritize buyers who can close quickly and predictably, even if another buyer might pay more after a drawn-out process.
• Rejection is part of the process: Walters estimates only one in 10 of his offers is accepted, meaning the approach requires persistence and consistent outreach to generate deals.

Related: Buyers face unexpected opportunity after new housing market shift

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 1:51 PM.