Bird dog
Someone who finds deals for a real estate investor in exchange for a fee. Doesn't get the property under contract themselves, unlike a wholesaler. State licensing laws vary on how bird dogs can get paid.
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Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A bird dog is the person who found your house for an investor and gets a finder's fee. If a stranger calls about buying your home and cannot make an offer themselves, that is often who they are.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
A man knocks and says he knows a buyer who would pay cash for your house. He cannot name a price; he is paid $500 when the investor closes.
| Who is calling | What they can actually do |
|---|---|
| A bird dog | Pass your name along; nothing more |
| A wholesaler | Put the home under contract and sell the contract |
| The investor | Buy it |
A bird dog finds houses. The offer, if one comes, comes from somebody else.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That the person at the door is the buyer. Often they are two steps removed from one.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
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