Stop Leaving Deals on the Table: Become a C.A.S.H. Buyer

by Tyler Gibson

Stop Leaving Deals on the Table: Become a C.A.S.H. Buyer

“If you’re only looking at Zillow, you’re leaving C.A.S.H. on the table.”

Let’s get real for a second—if Zillow is your only tool, you’re probably overpaying or missing the best deals altogether. I’m not here to bash Zillow—it’s a useful starting point—but if you want to get ahead in today’s market, you need to think a few layers deeper.

That’s where the C.A.S.H. strategy comes in. It’s a method I’ve used time and again to help buyers and investors land deals that others never even knew were an option. Whether you're trying to pick up your next rental or just want to stop losing out on homes in a hot market like Orlando, this is how you shift from browsing to winning.

🏡 C – Current Listings

These are the obvious ones. Zillow, Realtor.com, and the MLS. This is what everyone sees and what most agents rely on. And while you can find deals here, you’re in a crowded space. Everyone’s competing for the same inventory, and homes in hot areas are flying off the market.

Think of this as your baseline. It’s not wrong to look here—but if this is your only strategy, you’re doing it wrong.

🏘️ A – Active Rentals

Here’s where it gets interesting. Active rentals are homes currently leased to tenants. Many of these properties are owned by “accidental landlords”—people who couldn’t sell at the right time or inherited a property they didn’t plan on managing.

With the right approach and the right agent, these owners might be open to selling—off-market. You avoid bidding wars, and the seller avoids listing headaches. Everyone wins.

This is a goldmine if you're working with someone who knows how to find and approach these opportunities the right way.

📝 S – Sales Pending

Most buyers skip over pending listings assuming they’re off-limits. Here’s the thing: about 20% of deals fall through. That means 1 in 5 homes under contract might be available again soon.

By submitting a backup offer, you put yourself in position to scoop the deal if it comes back on the market. No scrambling. No re-listing delays. You’re first in line. And it happens more than you think.

🔍 H – Hidden Opportunities

This is where real strategy meets hustle. Hidden opportunities are deals most buyers never even hear about. These include:

Off-market homes
Expired listings
Canceled listings
Properties that never got listed at all

How do you find these? Networking. Agent relationships. Door-knocking. Direct outreach. It’s not easy, but it works—and it’s exactly how you uncover the kinds of deals that build real equity on day one.

If your agent isn’t doing this legwork, you’re missing out.

The Takeaway

Buying in today’s market takes more than scrolling through apps. It takes strategy. It takes hustle. And it takes looking in the places no one else is thinking to look.

Becoming a C.A.S.H. buyer doesn’t mean you have to pay all cash—it means you’re looking at Current listings, Active rentals, Sales pending, and Hidden opportunities. It’s a mindset. A blueprint for how to move smarter.

I’ve used this strategy with clients and investors across Central Florida—and it works. Especially in markets like Orlando where the inventory is tight, competition is fierce, and every edge matters.