15 Signs of a Bad Real Estate Agent for Investors + What Great Agents Do

Introduction: Why the Right Agent Matters in Real Estate Investing

Many people focus exclusively on finding the best properties when getting into real estate investing. However, as any experienced investor will tell you, success isn’t just about what you buy—it’s about who you have on your team.

One of the most essential roles on your investing team is your real estate agent. A good investment-focused agent does more than unlock doors—they help you source better deals, negotiate smarter, streamline transactions, and reduce risk. The wrong one? They can cost you thousands in missed opportunities, bad buys, and wasted time.

Here are 15 warning signs that you’ve partnered with the wrong real estate agent—plus what the right agent actually looks like, based on insights from Privy’s expert-backed investor training.

1. They Are Never Available When It Matters

Real estate moves fast—especially in competitive markets. If your agent regularly misses calls, takes days to respond to emails, or isn’t available when you need them most, they’re not supporting your goals.

A quality agent prioritizes communication. They may not be available 24/7, but they will return messages promptly and set clear expectations about availability—especially when you’re actively bidding or closing.

2. They Don’t Understand or Ask About Your Investment Goals

If your agent doesn’t ask what your goals are—cash flow, appreciation, short-term vs. long-term hold, etc.—they’re likely treating your deals like any old home purchase.

An investor-savvy agent knows that strategy informs everything. They’ll ask whether you’re looking for flips or rentals, what your ideal ROI looks like, how long you plan to hold the property, and whether you’re investing solo or with partners.

3. They Don’t Bring Deals to You

Your agent should be your eyes and ears in the market. If you’re constantly having to dig up your own leads, scour the MLS, or send them addresses, something’s wrong.

Great agents use tools like Privy to bring you deals that match your criteria proactively. They should be setting up auto-searches, sending opportunities, and flagging properties with value-add potential—even before you ask.

4. They Undermine Their Commission to Win Your Business

While a discount might sound good upfront, be cautious if your agent offers to slash their commission without you even asking. This could be a red flag for inexperience, desperation, or a lack of confidence in their value.

An agent who knows how to negotiate their own worth is more likely to negotiate yours. You want someone who brings strategic value, not just a low fee.

5. They Lack References or a Track Record With Investors

Reputation matters. If your agent can’t point to past investor clients, verified testimonials, or examples of deals they’ve worked on, think twice.

While every agent starts somewhere, even newer agents should have a well-defined plan, mentorship, or training under their belt. If they don’t understand the basics of ROI, cap rate, or rehab budgets—they’re probably not ready to represent you.

6. They Don’t Know the Difference Between an Investment Property and a Primary Residence

This is a big one. Buying an investment property is nothing like buying a primary home. You’re not looking for a dream kitchen or a perfect backyard—you’re looking at numbers.

A real estate agent for investors should understand:

• Rental comps
• Cash flow potential
• Renovation ROI
• Market rents
• BRRRR strategy
• 1031 exchanges

If they’re sending you emotionally driven listings or suggesting overpriced turnkey homes, they’re not aligned with your goals.

7. They Don’t Know the Local Investment Market

Every investment market is unique. You want an agent who knows which zip codes are trending, which neighborhoods are landlord-friendly, and what local tenant laws look like.

If your agent can’t answer basic questions about local ARV (after repair value), school zones, or which blocks are appreciating—they’re probably not the right fit.

8. They Don’t Collaborate With the Rest of Your Team

Investors rely on teams: contractors, lenders, property managers, CPAs, and more. A great agent should be comfortable collaborating with your network and even referring their own vetted professionals.

If your agent refuses to communicate with your lender or bad-mouths your contractor, that’s a major red flag.

9. They Aren’t Familiar With Real Estate Investment Tools or Technology

Great agents don’t just wait for opportunities—they leverage data to find them. Platforms like Privy let agents analyze multiple properties quickly, access MLS comps, and identify profitable investment opportunities at scale.

If your agent is still sending random Zillow links or relying on gut instinct instead of data, they’re not equipped to help you compete.

10. They Don’t Analyze the Numbers

An investor-friendly agent should understand how to analyze deals—at least at a basic level. That means being able to calculate:

• Cap rates
• ROI
• ARV
• Renovation budgets
• Gross rent multipliers

If you’re the only one doing the math, your agent isn’t pulling their weight.

11. They Focus More on Emotional Appeal Than Financial Metrics

This is common with agents who normally sell to homeowners. If they’re trying to sell you on “charming curb appeal” and “gorgeous cabinets” instead of rent potential and cash flow, they’re missing the point.

Real estate investing is a numbers game. Your agent’s job is to help you make objective decisions.

12. They Don’t Protect Your Interests During Negotiations

If your agent is more concerned with closing quickly than negotiating price, repairs, or favorable terms, it could cost you thousands.

The right agent will:

• Push for seller concessions
• Request inspection credits
• Negotiate extended timelines if needed
• Understand investor-specific contract clauses

13. They Talk Badly About Other Agents

Trash-talking other agents is not just unprofessional—it signals insecurity. A good agent knows that real estate is a collaborative industry, and relationships matter.

You want someone who represents you well in negotiations and respects others in the field.

14. They Don’t Help You Scale

An agent who’s truly aligned with your investing goals will help you think long term. They’ll ask questions like:

• “What’s your plan after this deal?”
• “Are you trying to scale into multifamily?”
• “Have you thought about out-of-state markets?”

They’ll want to be part of your journey—not just a one-off transaction.

15. They Don’t Use Tools Like Privy to Bring You Better Deals

The best agents use tech platforms like Privy to analyze deals faster, find properties before others do, and access up-to-date comps and market trends.

Privy equips agents with:

• Real-time MLS data
• ARV comps
• Automated deal analysis
• Filters tailored to investor criteria

If your agent isn’t using tools like these, you’re missing out on speed, efficiency, and competitive edge.

What a Great Agent Really Looks Like

According to the Privy Learning Center, a valuable agent for real estate investors does much more than unlock doors. They:

• Find and deliver quality deals based on your goals
• Provide accurate data to help evaluate investment potential
• Collaborate with the rest of your team
• Eliminate friction in transactions
• Use tech tools like Privy to analyze and deliver properties efficiently
• Communicate proactively and anticipate your needs

Most importantly, they think like an investor and work like a partner.

Connect With an Investor-Savvy Agent Through Privy

Success in real estate investing doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of strategy, data, and the right team. When you work with a Privy Pro Agent, you gain more than a real estate professional—you get a partner who knows how to think like an investor and act like a deal-maker.

Your agent customizes market searches to your investment strategy, delivering high-profit opportunities and insights straight to your inbox. They use Privy’s patented Comparative Search technology, which analyzes MLS listings using a proprietary investor-focused algorithm to identify the same types of properties that successful investors are actively buying.

This means fewer dead leads, faster analysis, and more time spent pursuing properties with true ROI potential.

Smarter Investing with Investor-Backed Data

Privy Pro Agents combine real-time MLS access with intelligent investment filters to:

• Identify undervalued properties before they hit the radar of other buyers
• Track investor activity to reveal proven strategies that work in your market
• Provide automated deal analysis, giving you a snapshot of potential returns in seconds
• Bring you both on- and off-market opportunities aligned with your goals

With your agent using Privy behind the scenes, you’ll stop guessing—and start investing with clarity and confidence.