If you're a realtor, I hate you. And if you're a realtor, you hate me. Or so it would seem.

(No, I don't hate realtors.)

There's an interesting - but totally foolish - dynamic at work where realtors & investors are concerned.

It seems that most investors assume that realtors are diabolically opposed to an investor's success. And vice-versa for realtors.

There are two very simple reasons for this:

1.     Some realtors are absolute morons.

2.    Some investors are absolute morons.

I know, I know, I know. I'm an investor, so I should take the investor's side. But I just can't take either side here. Here's why -

With very few exceptions, the only genuine similarity between investors and realtors are that they both make money by turning houses.

"The difference that makes the difference" between realtors and investors has to do with one thing: who is the TARGET MARKET that is served? Here's the answer -

·       Realtors deal primarily with traditional buyers and sellers. You know - the type of buyer that has 10-20% down payment and good credit, and the type of seller who wants to sell their house but isn't in a desperate hurry to do so.

·       Investors usually deal with NON-traditional buyers - the people who have down payment money but no credit, or vice versa. And our sellers are definitely non- traditional - we're after the people who have to sell TODAY - and are unable to wait the 3-6 months it will take to sell their house for full retail value.

·       Realtors rely on having a relatively large amount of time to sell a house, in exchange for getting a top-dollar cash offer.

·       Investors rely on quickly buying properties from motivated sellers, in exchange for a non-traditional offer of some type.

All of these are MARKET differences. Everything is related to the situation & circumstances of the BUYER or SELLER of real estate - and those circumstances will make the determination as to whether a realtor or an investor is the right solution for any individual situation.

Trying to fit someone who needs a realtor to an investor or vice versa is like putting the proverbial square peg in a round hole. Things just don't work that way.

So if you're a real estate investor who assumes that realtors are out to get you, stop being so foolish. Realtors can be a great resource in your network of business contacts - go out and establish a good relationship with a realtor today.

And if you're a realtor who assumes that all investors are crooked and use illegal strategies, please stop assuming that your license entitles you to declare all non- traditional strategies to be illegal. Go out there and make friends with an investor - there is BIG MONEY for you in that gold mine!

And regardless of who you are, just avoid people who are stubbornly stupid. Life will be easier, and you'll get more done.