Subject-To Is Back, Baby: Why I’m Buying Infinite Return Properties in 2025
It’s crazy the deals I’m finding right now.
This happened to me last week. The seller was a tired landlord, but it was deeper than that—she had rented the house to a family member, and that family member let another family member move in. Total mess. The place got trashed, nobody was paying rent, and she didn’t want to deal with the drama or go through an eviction. She just wanted out. The mortgage was $500 a month at a 4% interest rate, and the property could rent for about $1,300. I told her I’d take over the payments and gave her $15K to walk away. But I didn’t use my own money—I got a second mortgage from a private investor for $25K at 7%. That payment came out to about $150 a month. So now I’m all in at $650 a month and bringing in $1,300. That’s $650 in monthly cash flow and I walked away with $10K in my pocket from the difference in the loan. All clean, all legal, no banks, no headaches.
The second one was different. The lady was totally chill—she just needed a down payment to move, and she didn’t care what I did with the property as long as she could move on with her life. The house was turnkey, no repairs needed, and she had already accepted she couldn’t keep up with the mortgage. It wasn’t in foreclosure yet, and remember—it doesn’t become a foreclosure until you’re way behind. I gave her a small down payment, took over the loan, and put the property up for rent immediately. Whether the mortgage is performing or not, if the seller’s flexible and the numbers make sense, it’s a solid deal. You don’t need credit, you don’t need cash, you just need to recognize when the timing is right and know how to act.
It feels like 2008 all over again—but this time, we’re smarter, faster, and better connected. I’m talking about the comeback of subject-to deals. If you’ve been in the real estate game long enough, you know these gems pop up when the market gets a little weird. And right now in 2025, it’s weird in all the right ways.
Just this past week, I scooped up four properties using subject-to. Two of them? Infinite returns. That means I got in with almost no money, no banks, no credit pulls—and now I’ve got cash-flowing assets working for me. Not bad for a strategy most folks forgot about during the red-hot seller markets.
So what’s causing the spike? Simple. Sellers are nervous. They’re hearing crash talk, watching prices stall, and assuming the worst. But those of us who’ve been through this before? We know it’s not 2008 again. It’s a market reset. Florida’s still got demand. Inventory’s creeping up. Buyers are hesitant. While everyone else waits, I’m stacking assets.
Now if you’re new to this, let me explain it like you’re 10. A subject-to deal means you buy the house, but the existing loan stays in the seller’s name. You take over the payments. No new mortgage application. No bank telling you “no.” You’re basically taking control of the property while the seller walks away. Legal, useful, and surprisingly simple when done right.
Most people overlook this strategy because they don’t get it. But in today’s market? It’s one of the only ways left to buy properties without needing 20% down. You just need a motivated seller, a real conversation, and the guts to move.
Another deal I picked up was from a couple going through a divorce. They were behind one month on payments and didn’t want to list the home. I stepped in, caught them up, took over the mortgage, and now I’ve got a rental in a strong area with equity built in. That one deserves its own article soon.
The math on subject-to is what makes it shine. I’m not chasing equity—I’m chasing cash flow. If I can take over a mortgage for $1,000, rent the place for $1,700, and still walk away with $400–$500 a month after taxes and insurance? That’s a win. And when I borrow the money for the upfront costs, my return becomes infinite. Sometimes I walk away with cash in my pocket from the loan structure itself.
Let’s be real about risk. Just because the loan stays in the seller’s name doesn’t mean you can slack. You’re responsible for making the payments. If you mess up, you tank someone else’s credit. That’s why I use land trusts, attorney-prepared contracts, and keep a communication line open with the seller—at least at the beginning. You have to treat it with the same responsibility as if it were your own mortgage—because in every way that matters, it is.
Who should be doing subject-to right now? Honestly—anyone who wants to grow fast. New investors without access to conventional lending. Flippers needing a short-term hold. Buy-and-hold landlords looking for low-entry deals. Even retirees wanting passive income can benefit.
These deals are everywhere once you know what to look for. I get referrals from wholesalers, agents, and even friends now. But early on, I was the one doing the digging. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, expired listings, tired landlords, cold calls. I looked up people behind on taxes. I talked to probate attorneys and divorce attorneys. One of my barbers even sent me a lead once. If you stay active, these deals come to you.
It’s not always neat. Sometimes the seller’s in a tough spot. Sometimes the house has a backstory. But if you can solve the seller’s problem and the numbers work, that’s the recipe. Subject-to isn’t a loophole—it’s just a smart solution most people overlook.
You don’t have to be a guru or a millionaire to pull this off. You just need to take action. Every time someone says “no” to the banks, there’s a chance they’ll say “yes” to you. Every tired landlord, every missed mortgage payment, every unlisted house with hidden stress behind it—that’s a potential win if you show up with the right mindset and offer a real solution.
Bottom line? Subject-to is back, and it’s one of the best tools in the toolbox right now. Don’t wait for the crash that might not come. Don’t sit out the reset. This is your window to grow with creativity and speed.
What People Are Saying
The response to this story has been overwhelming—and real investors are asking the right questions. Here’s just a glimpse of the conversations happening in the community:
Chris H. asked: “What paperwork normally needs signed to take over a mortgage?”
My reply: Great question—usually just a purchase agreement, subject-to addendum, and a few disclosures. If you’re working with the right title company, they’ll walk you through it.
Maria M. asked: “Congrats! For the 2nd position loan of 25k at 7%, how long is the loan for and is it interest only?”
My reply: Not basic at all! That loan was interest-only for 5 years. I work with passive investors who prefer lending over landlording—they get solid returns, and I keep the deal structure simple for everyone involved.
Andrea S. said: “You skipped over the fun part—I’m here to hear about how you got her squatter family out!”
My reply: Haha, that was the wild part. I offered a simple “cash for keys” deal—no courts, no drama. They walked, I cleaned it up, and got a tenant in fast.
Mike K. commented: “He called it ‘trashed’ and ‘they weren’t paying rent,’ but somehow pocketed the $10k and is already cash flowing.”
My reply: It was trashed—but not damaged. Big difference. Just a deep clean and a couple minor fixes. I left enough buffer in the deal to cover all that and still walk away with cash flow from day one.
Brenda L. asked: “7% loan sounds good! How did you find it?”
My reply: After 20 years in real estate, I’ve talked to a lot of folks who want to invest passively. I keep a list of private lenders who trust me and are ready when the right deal pops up. I now work with 10–15 active private lenders on a regular basis.
Daniel C. asked: “How did you find these properties?”
My reply: Relationships. After 3,500+ deals, I’ve built a huge network—state attorneys, wholesalers, private sellers. I stay active and keep solid data. The deals come when the relationships are real.
Mark G. said: “Hard to believe any seller would do that with 0 skin in the game. Sounds risky for them.”
My reply: I get it—it sounds crazy. But I’ve done this over 40 times with no money out-of-pocket for the last 10 years. It’s all about education, building trust, and showing sellers a true win-win solution. This story? 100% real.
Joanne F. shared: “I paid off my mortgage after joining the FIRE movement—real estate and financial independence go hand in hand.”
My response: Love this! Congrats. Whether you’re doing subject-to or stock-market strategies, it’s all about building passive income and staying consistent.
Got questions?
I read every message. If you’re curious how to find deals like this or want to learn how I structure subject-to offers, let’s talk. These aren’t unicorns—they’re happening every day in 2025.
Keep it consistent, stay patient, stay true—if I did it, so can you. This is Jorge Vazquez, CEO of Graystone Investment Group and all our amazing companies, and Coach at Property Profit Academy. Thanks for tuning in—until the next article, take care and keep building!
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