Raising Private Money with Jay Conner

Building a Predictable Probate Deal Machine with Private Money Insights with Andrew Becker

Jay Conner

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In the world of real estate investing, two critical questions dominate most investors’ minds: How do I find the deals, and where do I get the money? Jay Conner, known as the Private Money Authority, explores both on his podcast “Raising Private Money.” In a recent episode, Jay sits down with Andrew Becker to dive deep into one of the most overlooked yet lucrative lead sources in real estate: the probate niche.

Andrew Becker isn’t your average real estate operator. After beginning his career in one of the most systemized and high-stakes environments possible—supporting the U.S. Air Force’s nuclear enterprise in the Pentagon—Andrew brought his obsession with process and systems into real estate. Over the past 13 years, he has built and scaled a high-performance operation, eventually discovering that probate leads consistently produced seven-figure revenues for his businesses.

So, why probate, and what makes Andrew’s approach different?

The Power of Focusing In

Andrew’s journey into the probate niche didn’t happen by accident. Initially managing dozens of lead sources, he and his team realized that their deal flow was being throttled by a lack of focus. Instead of going a mile wide and an inch deep, Andrew looked at the data and decided to zero in on what was actually working. Probate leads rose to the surface, consistently producing high-quality, motivated sellers and, more importantly, reliable profits.

This is grounded in the Pareto Principle—the classic 80/20 rule—in which 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. For Andrew, probate was that critical 20%.

Understanding Probate vs. Pre-Probate

A common point of confusion for many investors is the difference between pre-probate and probate leads. Andrew explains that pre-probate refers to instances where someone has passed away, but the legal process hasn’t yet been initiated. These are flagged by death certificates or obituaries. In contrast, probate is the formal legal process that begins once a “petition for probate” is filed in court.

Crucially, Andrew’s system doesn’t target pre-probate leads out of respect for grieving families who may not be ready to make decisions about their inherited property. Instead, he waits for the formal opening of a probate case, which signals that the family is ready to begin settling the estate. This approach is both more ethical and more effective, leading to better conversion rates and less resistance.

What is a Probate “Machine”?

The heart of Andrew Becker’s success is his systematized approach—what he calls the “probate machine.” Across the more than 3,000 counties in the U.S., new probate cases are opened every single day. Andrew teaches investors how to pull these probate records themselves, directly from the courthouse, instead of relying on slow or outdated list providers. This gives investors a real competitive edge, allowing them to reach out to personal representatives (PRs) as soon as a case is filed.

What sets Andrew’s system apart is its dual focus on both the property and the probate process itself. By educating themselves on probate, investors can truly help overwhelmed PRs navigate the complex and often confusing world of estate settlement. This high-value, service-oriented approach fosters trust and positions investors as allies, not just opportunistic buyers.

The Real Mindset Shift

Many real estate professionals approach probate leads as they would any other distressed seller—just another address. Becker advocates for a more nuanced and compassionate approach. Personal representatives are not typical home sellers. They’re often overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and juggling personal obligations on top of managing an estate. By leading with genuine value—offering probate checklists, resource guides, and introductions to trusted probate attorneys—investors can build authentic relationships and differentiate th