Get On the Bus!

Bus tours of foreclosed homes has become a useful tool that can bring together buyers with bank owned properties. Many agents in California have begun putting together bus tours where they take potential buyers on bus trips to view 5 or 7 properties in a day. Tours can attract dozens of people for a three hour tour of bargain properties. Tour guides have the captive attention of the buyers, who can focus on pricing information as they are free from worries of high gas prices, driving in unfamiliar neighborhoods, and not having anyone around to answer their questions.

The agents provide information beforehand on the properties to be toured, and some have even had an attorney, a housing inspector, and a mortgage person on hand to answer any questions. The tour bus idea has been credited to a Stockton real estate broker and mortgage consultant named Cesar Dias. He found success and now has franchised out tours in Santa Ana, San Diego, the Inland Empire, and even outside California.