Answers by Mayra Garcia

You can approach him directly but there’s no guaranteed way to signal interest before the home hits the market. However, you can have your agent reach out on your behalf, send a simple and respectful letter, or look into public records for possible contact information. You can also ask your agent to watch for any pre-market activity through the MLS. In most cases, though, a polite direct approach or agent outreach will give you the best chance of getting ahead of other buyers. Also remember to be prepared, If the home does come up for sale, having your pre-approval ready puts you in a strong position to move quickly.