When I was buying houses, my most important asset was my family. I was young and married with three little children. I would buy houses and fix them up. I would play my favorite songs on the stereo while I worked. I would work long hours and did most of the work, but it was my combined family that charmed potential sellers.

We didn't just buy houses and sell them. We would buy houses fix them up some and then rent them out. Selling them would come later. We found other people that had gone before us. They had bought houses and rented them out. These people recognized the effort that it took to own houses, and they appreciated family support.

I don't know that I ever brought my family along with me as I previewed homes, but I always talked about them and what we did. If people like you and see themselves in your actions, then buying their houses has nothing to do with money.

My wife and I were able to buy houses from several different couples with little down as we purchased houses on Real Estate Contracts. When I say little down, I'm talking about anything from ten dollars to one hundred dollars. Sometimes the first payment would even be several months away, which enabled us to take the house and begin repairs and remodeling. Quite often we would be able to collect two months rent before we ever paid out "real" funds.

All of this was possible because the people liked us AND we established a track record of above board transactions. There are many people out there in the world who try to finagle the best deal to the detriment of the home seller. In the long run that is not a positive approach.

Our story of a loving family and hard workers was a selling point to the people who sold us homes. Even house rentals can take on the status of children. People who own houses tend to feel like mother hens. They want their houses to be given a good home.

Present your story to prospective sellers. Let them know who and what you are. Sincerity is key. Be honest with the sellers. They might have more houses and they might know other people who will sell their properties. If they like you, they will help you. If they don't like you, then you better let your money do the talking.

Don Doman is a published author, video producer, and corporate trainer. He owns the business training site Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com), which he says is the home of the no-hassle "free preview" for business training videos. Don and his wife Peg at one time owned 33 single family homes, which they purchased, remodeled, and used as income properties before selling them for profit. You can gain from their experiences at Simple Home Repair (http://www.simplehomerepair.com).