How to Build Motivated Seller Lists That Actually Work w/ Matt Kamp

Matt Kamp walked us through how to use Deal Machine’s platform to find off-market deals faster and more effectively — and he didn’t hold back. Whether you’re flipping your first property or expanding your rental portfolio using brrrr loans, this was a masterclass in real estate lead generation.

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Why Smarter List Building Matters

The old days of pulling massive absentee lists and sending out blanket mailers are fading fast. Matt explained that the real opportunity lies in data-stacked, niche lists that help investors zero in on the most motivated sellers.

With Deal Machine, it’s about stacking the right filters to get better ROI on your marketing and avoid wasting time chasing cold leads. That’s why so many hard money lenders in Missouri, including us here at FasterFunds Lending, recommend it to borrowers who want to stay competitive.

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The 3-Step Strategy to Build a High-Converting Seller List

Step 1: Start With the Baseline Filters

This sets the foundation for a great list. Matt recommends:

• Focusing on one zip code in the St. Louis area for hyperlocal marketing

• Filtering for off-market properties — this ensures you’re talking directly to the seller, not through an agent

• Selecting your property type — typically single-family homes or small multi-family units work best for fix and flip loans or rental property investments

These criteria immediately narrow your list from thousands of properties down to a few hundred qualified leads — saving time and money on your outreach.

Step 2: Define Your Buy Box

This is where you fine-tune your list to match the kinds of deals that fit your goals — or your lender’s criteria.

Matt suggests adding filters like:

• 2 bed / 1 bath minimum

• Minimum 1,000 square feet

• Year built between 1950 and 1990 (older homes tend to need more rehab, which is perfect for value-add investors)

• Optional: estimated value under $750k if you’re working in affordable markets

This step is critical for hard money loan approval, especially with local lenders like FasterFunds who underwrite based on ARV (After Repair Value).

Step 3: Add Motivated Seller Triggers

Now that you’ve got your target property type and location, it’s time to stack on filters that indicate seller distress, such as:

• Absentee ownership

• Tax delinquency

• Pre-foreclosure or foreclosure status

• High equity or free & clear properties

• Deal Machine’s “Likely to Move” AI indicator

This is where your list becomes truly powerful. Even a small list of 200–500 leads can outperform a list of 5,000 if it’s stacked properly with seller motivation.

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Driving for Dollars: Still King in 2025

Matt reminded us that no tech or data platform will ever fully replace driving for dollars — getting out in the field and identifying properties that show physical signs of distress. It’s still the most effective way to build unique lists that nobody else has.

With Deal Machine, you can:

• Use their mobile app to pin properties from your car

• Track your driving routes with color-coded overlays

• Instantly skip trace and call the owner from the app

• Set up direct mail campaigns on the spot

And if you can’t drive? No problem. They also offer:

• Virtual Driving for Dollars (D4D) using Google Street View

• AI-powered list building that scans property images and data to build distress lists automatically (at just 2 cents per property)

This makes it easier than ever to build off-market property lists — whether you’re flipping homes, growing your rental portfolio, or sourcing deals to wholesale.

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Direct Mail + Follow-Up: The Hidden Multiplier

A great list is useless without consistent follow-up. Matt shared some important stats:

• If you mail a lead once, there’s only about a 15–19% chance you’ll connect

• But if you mail them three times? That jumps to nearly 50%

That’s why Deal Machine lets you:

• Create custom mail sequences (e.g. send a postcard every 21 days for 3 months)

• Match different mail templates to different seller types (e.g. tired landlord vs. vacant home)

• Use built-in skip tracing to pull phone numbers and emails instantly

Whether you’re using private money lending, asset-based loans, or just bootstrapping, smart marketing = better ROI.

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Data-Driven + AI-Enhanced = Better Results

If you want to scale beyond just your neighborhood, Matt also showed off Deal Machine’s Teams Plan — ideal for growing operations that need to pull thousands of contacts or manage virtual assistants. And with their new AI assistant, you can even automate list building and lead analysis.

The bottom line? This isn’t just a tool for tech-savvy investors — it’s for anyone who wants to take their business seriously and stop guessing.

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Want to Try It Out?

Matt gave Buyers Club members access to an exclusive Deal Machine offer:
dealmachine.com/buyersclub

You’ll get:

• A 7-day free trial

• 500 free cold calling minutes

• 50 free postcards (powered by Ballpoint Marketing)

Perfect if you’re getting ready to request a fix and flip loan, short-term real estate loan, or just want to increase your real estate investing leads.

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Ready to Fund Your Next Deal?

Once your list is built, you’ll need funding — and that’s where FasterFunds Lending comes in. We’re a local hard money lender based in O’Fallon, Missouri, specializing in fast closings, personal service, and real results.

We fund:

• Fix and flip loans for beginners and pros

• Hard money loans for rental property

• 100% financing options (based on deal structure)

• BRRRR loans for portfolio growth

Call us at 636-223-4262 to talk about your deal or learn more at fasterfundslending.com

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Want More Sessions Like This?

Join us every Wednesday at noon for Buyers Club Live in our Facebook group. Buyers Club Live is our free weekly virtual meetup where local investors learn from one another, share wins, ask questions, and grow together. We’re proud to be the go-to real estate investing community for St. Louis and surrounding Missouri markets.