🧭 What Is Driving for Dollars?
Want to get rich in real estate? Start by learning how to spot a deal—and the best way to do that is by driving for dollars.
In one of his latest YouTube videos, real estate investor Troy Kearns jumps in his truck, fires up the DealMachine app, and gives us a front-row seat to how he finds investment properties the old-school way: by physically driving neighborhoods and identifying distressed houses.
👉 Watch the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwI2T0_6qT4
Driving for dollars is when you cruise through targeted neighborhoods looking for signs that a property might be a good investment—think peeling paint, overgrown grass, boarded-up windows, or just plain neglect. These are often the hidden gems: owners who might be ready (or need) to sell, even if their property isn’t officially listed.
Troy puts it best:
“If you’re good at finding money, you know how to find what money looks like.”
That beat-up house with weeds in the yard? That’s opportunity. And Troy’s found hundreds of deals this way—many of which turned into flips or rental properties in his now 350-unit portfolio.
🛠 Tools You Need Before You Start
Before hitting the streets, Troy gears up with a few key tools:
DealMachine App – This is the heart of the operation. It tracks your driving path, pulls up owner info, sends direct mail, and can even skip trace on the spot. (MAREI has a Killer Trial for Deal Machine – click here)
Phone + Camera – To document the house, take photos for marketing, and follow up with sellers.
A keen eye – You’ve got to train yourself to spot the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs of distress.
Troy keeps it real: “Have your head on a swivel. Look for dead grass, old roofs, broken fences, halfway-open garages—anything that seems out of place.”
🏚️ What to Look for When Driving
Once he’s on the road, Troy shows exactly what to look for:
Overgrown or dead lawns
Boarded-up windows
Peeling paint
Garages that don’t close
Roofs that look shot
Piles of junk in the yard
Old or run-down cars in the driveway
He emphasizes paying attention to everything. Even the smaller signs of neglect could indicate a motivated seller.
“Boards are like the best thing you could ever see. Boards = Money.”
📱 Using DealMachine in Real Time
Troy walks through the DealMachine process:
Spot a property
Confirm the address in the app
Add it as a lead
Take a clear photo (it goes directly on the mailer!)
Use the app to skip trace the owner if you want to call them right away
Send out mailers
He even shows how his mailers look—with his photo and a personalized message referencing the specific property. These go straight to the owner’s mailbox.
📍 Why the Neighborhood Matters
Troy also gives a little masterclass on choosing the right neighborhoods:
Lower-income areas = more distressed properties = more leads
Higher-income areas = fewer signs of distress, fewer deals
First-time homebuyer areas = prime for flips
Avoid the “back end of the street” unless the price is unbeatable
He drives through one of his favorite neighborhoods and points out houses he’s already flipped—two of them on the same street!
🕵️♂️ Real Talk: Why Driving for Dollars Works
This strategy is old school, but it still works. Why?
Because most investors aren’t willing to put in the effort. They rely on lists and online leads. Troy? He drives the streets and finds deals others overlook.
“The last time we drove for dollars, I found some great properties. The lower the price point, the more likely you’re going to see people with distress or financial trouble—and that’s where the deals are.”
✅ Final Thoughts from Troy
Before signing off, Troy reminds us:
Be consistent
Use your tools wisely
Don’t ignore signs of distress
Always be marketing (even when driving)
“Get started driving for dollars today so you can get rich tomorrow.”
Troy Kearns
Troy Kearns is a full-time real estate investor with over two decades of experience buying, flipping, and managing properties across multiple markets, including Las Vegas and Kansas City. Known for his no-fluff, boots-on-the-ground approach, Troy specializes in off-market deals, skip tracing, and building long-term wealth through real estate. With a portfolio of over 350 units, he’s passionate about helping new investors take action and find financial freedom.
You can catch Troy at MAREI on May 13th, 2025.
