Strategy — Wholesaling
Quote MAO confidently and move every contract faster
The wholesaler's edge is speed plus defensible numbers. DealForge gives you a comp-backed ARV, an instant MAO, and a branded one-pager you can send to your buyer list before the seller signs with someone else.
- Instant MAO from a comp-backed ARV
- Branded buyer flyers in flipper or landlord mode
- Public share link per deal — no buyer login required
- Track multiple buyer offers on a single contract
- Snapshot saved per deal for post-close variance review
- Compliant assignment-fee disclosure fields
What it is
Wholesaling moves a property from a motivated seller to an end buyer via contract assignment. Profit is the spread, paid at closing. The work is acquisition (finding the seller), underwriting (defending the ARV and rehab), and distribution (getting the deal in front of the right buyer fast). DealForge compresses underwriting and distribution into the same workflow.
Who it's for
New wholesalers
Skip the spreadsheet phase and underwrite like a pro from day one.
High-volume wholesalers
Standardize how every deal goes to your buyer list.
Hybrid investors
Wholesale the deals you don't want; keep the ones you do.
How it works
- Step 1
Drop the lead
Address, seller asking price, condition notes.
- Step 2
Pull comps and ARV
Recency-weighted comp set with override-friendly UI.
- Step 3
Set MAO and assignment fee
DealForge applies the 70% rule with your overrides.
- Step 4
Generate buyer flyer
Branded one-pager, flipper or landlord framing.
- Step 5
Share and assign
Public link to your buyer list; pick the best offer.
Wholesale workflow compared
| Step | Old way | DealForge |
|---|---|---|
| Build ARV | Zillow + gut | Weighted comp engine |
| Quote MAO | Mental math | Auto, with overrides |
| Send to buyers | Screenshot in a text | Branded flyer + share link |
Wholesale MAO calculator
Quote your seller-side MAO with the assignment fee already baked in.
Default expense, tax & vacancy assumptionsClick to expand — every default is editable and feeds back into the numbers above.ShowHide
Default 1% · at default
% of buyer MAO charged when you can't assign directly. Set to 0 for a clean assignment.
Default $1,500 · at default
Flat-fee transactional title work. Larger deals push this $2k–$3k.
Default $500 · at default
Email blast, paid placements, dispo VA time. Skip if you have a hot buyer.
Estimates only. DealForge models every line item — taxes, insurance, vacancy, capex, financing fees — when you run the full analyzer.
Inputs, assumptions & how to read the results
What each field means, the math we apply, and what counts as a healthy number.
Buyer MAO vs your seller-side MAO?
Buyer MAO is the highest price a flipper end-buyer would pay for this deal. Your seller-side MAO is buyer MAO minus your assignment fee and any transaction costs you eat.
How do I pick the ARV multiplier?
Default 70% is the national convention for flips. Use 75% in hot coastal markets where flippers accept tighter margins, and 65% in slower markets or deep-rehab deals.
What assignment fee is realistic?
Typical SFR assignments run $5k–$25k. Larger spreads or institutional buyers can support $30k+. The right fee leaves the end buyer enough profit to pursue the deal.
Why is my MAO negative?
ARV × multiplier − rehab − fee − costs came out below zero. Either ARV is too low, rehab too high, or the spread is too thin — walk away or renegotiate.
What's in the assumptions panel?
Transaction costs you actually incur — double-close fees if you can't assign, title, marketing. These come out of your assignment fee, not the buyer's side.
Frequently asked questions
What is wholesaling real estate?
Wholesaling is the practice of putting a property under contract with a seller, then assigning that contract to an end buyer for a fee — without ever taking title. The wholesaler's profit is the spread between the seller's contract price and the buyer's purchase price, minus the assignment fee paid at closing.
Is wholesaling legal?
In most U.S. states, yes, when structured as an assignment of contract rather than the unlicensed brokering of someone else's property. A handful of states (notably Illinois, Oklahoma, and South Carolina) have passed restrictions requiring a license or limiting volume — check your state's most recent statute and consult counsel.
How do wholesalers find buyers?
Most wholesalers maintain a buyer list of cash flippers and landlords. DealForge's deal-marketing module generates branded flyers and public share links you can send to that list with one click.
What margin should a wholesaler target?
Typical assignment fees range from $5,000 to $25,000 per single-family deal, with experienced wholesalers regularly clearing $30,000+ on larger spreads. The right fee is whatever leaves the end buyer enough profit to pursue the deal.
What is the standard wholesale formula?
MAO = ARV × 0.70 − Rehab − Wholesale Fee. The 70% rule reserves 30% of ARV for the end buyer's profit, holding costs, and closing costs.
Related features
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