Cold Calling is Dying – Here's What Smart Investors Are Doing Instead

For years, cold calling and mass texting were the go-to strategies for real estate investors seeking motivated sellers. But in 2025, these outbound tactics are not just outdated—they’re increasingly ineffective and risky.

Here's what's happening:

Carriers are using AI to detect spam and cold call behavior. They can identify patterns like high call rates, rapid-fire dialing, short durations, and low connect ratios, which raise red flags.
Once your number is flagged, it’s game over. You’re looking at missed calls, low connect rates, and wasted effort.
Investors are cycling through numbers, burning through new ones, and repeating the cycle. It’s a treadmill with a trapdoor under it.

Damon Remy, CEO of REI BlackBook, has been warning about this shift since 2020. Back then, many dismissed his concerns. Now, even top real estate educators and influencers are feeling the impact. In mastermind groups, seasoned investors report:

Connection rates are tanking.
They’re burning through phone numbers faster.
Call quality is dropping.
Messages aren’t landing.

The consensus? Something’s changing—and not in a good way.

So, what's the alternative?

Damon just released a new blog post article,

The Death of Outbound: Why Cold Calling Is Killing Your Real Estate Business (And What to Do Instead)

that outlines exactly what’s happening and outlines a 10 – part inbound playbook that serious investors are using to scale without chasing leads.

All of these methods can be used inside of REIBlackbook or in outside, of REI Blackbook and do not rely on Cold Calling, Texting or Ringless Voice Mail

Key takeaways include:

Invest in Paid Ads: Utilize Google Search Ads targeting phrases like “sell my house fast [city],” Facebook & Instagram Lead Ads, YouTube Pre-Roll Video Ads, and TikTok Video Ads. Retargeting ads can help you stay top of mind after visitors leave your site.
Leverage Owned Media: Develop an SEO-optimized website, create blog content answering common seller questions, produce YouTube videos (e.g., “how to sell a house you inherited”), and implement email nurture sequences and text message follow-ups (after opt-in).
Engage in Referral-Based Lead Channels: Build relationships with past clients, real estate agents with off-market deals, other wholesalers, attorneys (probate, divorce, bankruptcy), senior living facility contacts, and loan officers & title reps with fallen-through deals.
Host Events & Authority Plays: Organize seller education webinars, free local seminars, speak at community events, sponsor school or sports events, and host booths at fairs or home expos.

The bottom line: Outbound isn’t dead, but your strategy might be. In this new era, you don’t need to work harder—you need to work smarter.

Ready to stop getting blocked and start building something sustainable? Read Damon’s full blog post here.