The MLS is just about useless for a search, since it will just give you all the houses instead of specifying "seller financing".

Actually, you can Google "seller financing real esatate texas" and stuff will come up. I'd also try, surprisingly enough, Craigslist, Kijii, Ebay, http://www.forsalebyowner.com, as well as other sites that promote FSBO's or seller financing.

You may also consider typing in "Lease Option", which is another form of seller financing. People who are willing to lease option are sometimes willing to do other types of seller financing.

The buyers agent is usually 'free', but that's because their commission comes from the seller instead of the buyer. So you have to find someone who is willing to work with and pay your agent. Also, an agent will not generally show you homes that they aren't getting a commission on (why would they?) While some people are smart enough to know the advantages of working with buyer's agents, a lot of seller financing / lease option / for sale by owners don't want to pay the commission and won't do it.

Good luck!

You can find them through the REALTOR member of the MLS who is representing you as a buyer's agent, or you can do as you seem to be doing and hope that you get lucky. Buyer's agency usually costs a buyer nothing.

Luis, Some sellers may consider financing their home but they will require you to put a good down payment down, may be 10-15%. Do you have that?

Is there a particular reason you are looking only at homes where the seller would finance? do you have credit issues? how bad? are you working on getting it repaired? do you need help with that?

Let us know a little more about your situation to give you more alternatives.

Finding seller financed homes generally isn't a problem in most areas of the United States. Admittedly, I know nothing about Ellis County. However, if you asked the same question where I am (Northern Virginia), most Realtors would respond the same way Chris and Lynn did: That you can search the MLS, but you won't find very much. Absolutely true.

So, think outside the (MLS) box. Someone who is willing to do seller financing wants to sell, but has been unable to. They also don't need all their equity out. Now, in Texas you're at something of a disadvantage in that lease-options are a great variation on seller financing, but are extremely restricted in Texas. So, you should check with an attorney to find out what you can and can't do--not just with lease options, but with other variations on creative financing.

Still: Start with the MLS. Don't just look for "seller financing" in the comments. Look for properties with long days on market, and expired listings. Better yet, have an agent run a list of properties with long days on market (or expired listings) that were purchased 10 or more years ago. Those likely have equity in them, and the owners would be able to do seller financing.

You contact the owner and make the following case: "I saw that you've been trying to sell your property. I may be interested in buying it. However, I'm looking for a property that the owner would be willing to hold the mortgage, rather than the bank. You've probably heard what it's like with the sub-prime meltdown. And you certainly know that the market is slow. So, if you don't need all your equity out right away, let's talk about me buying your house from you."

In addition to looking for expired listings and long days on market, you might also look at properties that had been listed for sale and are now listed for rent. Again, in other states, these are ideal lease-option properties. In Texas, though, they're still fine owner-financing properties. These people tried to sell. They couldn't. Now they're forced into trying to rent. You come in and you're offering to buy (which is what they wanted in the first place). The only catch is that you're buying with owner financing. But since they were willing to rent it out, that means they don't need all their cash out. Again, though, check with a lawyer to make sure you're not violating any of Texas' laws.

Hope that helps.

Luis, Unfortunately as Lynn said there will be a very, very small selection. What we typically see is properties that are having an extremely hard time selling. You will probably pay too much for the property, have a selection of just a few homes and pay an increased interest rate.
I don't like to see people waste their money with leases, but typically I advise that, if they can't get a bank loan, they lease for a while and work with a good lender to clean up their credit.

Good luck with whatever you do!

A realtor and search MLS on your behalf locate properties. We would be happy to do so, their will be limited selection if any at all. These types of deals usually difficult to do all the paperwork for the best interest of the all parties.