Most people in the US are aware of the current real estate crisis and the unsettling fact that many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. Before a home is in the process of becoming foreclosed, it is in the pre-foreclosure stage. The pre-foreclosure period can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and is considered by many real estate investors as the absolute best time in which to negotiate the purchase of a home.

Many of the ‘for sale by owner’ signs that you see are from owners that are in pre-foreclosure. The bank usually allows the homeowner time in which to try and sell their home before it is foreclosed. This is common because the bank is not in the real estate business and would prefer the current owner sell the home to cut their losses rather then having to seize the home themselves.

Many Realtors agree that buying a pre-foreclosed home is an excellent idea. Here are many advantages to buying a pre-foreclosed home from a homeowner rather than a foreclosed home at a government auction:

- Pre-foreclosed homes are sold for less than foreclosed homes. A homeowner will sell their pre-foreclosed home for low cost so they won?t have to face foreclosure.

- Since you won?t be at an auction, you will be given more time to talk to the home owner about any questions you may have concerning the house.

- Typically less competition then at a foreclosure auction where there is multiple bidding for the same property. Foreclosures attracts more of the mass real estate market then pre-foreclosures does.

- You won?t have to worry about becoming frustrated from losing a bid.

- Auctions can be either overwhelming or lead to egotistical or emotional decisions.

- You have more time to have a pre-foreclosed home inspected than you would at an auction. You will be aware of any potential problems the house may have.

- All you?ll need to buy a pre-foreclosed home is a down payment for as low as a few hundred dollars. At a government auction you would need the entire amount in cash.

Always check to make sure that the pre-foreclosed home you?re interested in has no liens or judgements against it. You should also bring along someone to inspect the home for you so you?ll know of any problems it may have. The risks in purchasing a pre-foreclosed home are similar to purchasing a home the traditional way, only a lot less expensive! You can even resell the pre-foreclosed home for more money than you purchased it for.

Both the home owners and lenders across the United States are suffering because of current real estate crisis. The number of bank foreclosures and pre foreclosures is at an all time high and are accounting for 40% of all homes sold within the last 2 months (currently it is early Oct/08), and the government bail-outs haven’t been the holy grail has expected. The American Dream has now turned into a nightmare for home owners.

So what happens to homes after they’re foreclosed? Obviously, someone else will gain from another’s loss, which means that some good can come from this crisis. Foreclosed homes are usually sold at auctions for factions of their worth. Lenders will allow the foreclosed homes to sell well below market value, just to quickly recover any loaned amount possible. This can be a good thing for others, including first time buyers and low-income families, who are looking to purchase a home for investment or to reside in. Also if you’re buying a foreclosed home the bank will be more accommodating, if you have good credit, as they would prefer a mortgage payment rather then leaving the home abandoned.

Sometimes homeowners will go ahead and sell their homes before being foreclosed; this is simply called ‘pre-foreclosure’. Homeowners have a period of time to sell the house themselves before it is officially foreclosed. The public will be notified through government auction sites of a home facing foreclosure, which will give potential buyers time to make a deal with the bank or current owners.

Many people are finding that they can earn money by purchasing pre-foreclosed and foreclosed homes and then reselling them. For example, it’s possible to buy foreclosed and pre-foreclosed homes for as low as 25% of it’s market value, then reselling it for 75% of it’s value. For a house worth $200,000 that would be a $100,000 profit. There are many who have never had any previous experience in the real estate business now taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the real estate crisis. Foreclosed homes are most often offered through government auctions. But where can you find out about such opportunities?

There are many government auction websites that offer all the latest information on bank foreclosures. You can find listings on current and upcoming foreclosed homes. The best foreclosure sites do charge a membership fee, however, so do some of the worth sites. So how will you know which sites offer legitimate listings and which ones don’t?

The research is actually very easy to do if you read information on government auction ‘review’ sites. These reviews are very informative and they will keep visitors updated on the top, most trustworthy government auction membership sites. The government auction reviews test through specific criteria, and are scored according to the results. Obviously, the higher the score, the better and up-to-date the site’s foreclosure details are.

Whether you’re interested in simply getting a good deal on your dream home or investing for a profit, you need to read the reviews about the top government review sites before deciding which ones to enroll in. This way, you’ll get all the detailed information on which sites offer the best up-to-date information on home foreclosures and avoid any scams. Here are four steps to follow to help you down the right path:

- Go to a free government auction review site and read the reviews

- Go to to one of the top recommended government sites and become a member

- Go to to one of the top govenment sites and browse and select the best values in the foreclosure listings

- When it makes sense drop by the properties of highest interest and then visit the corresponding government auction

Most people in the US are aware of the current real estate crisis and the unsettling fact that many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. Before a home is in the process of becoming foreclosed, it is in the pre-foreclosure stage. The pre-foreclosure period can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and is considered by many real estate investors as the absolute best time in which to negotiate the purchase of a home.

A lot of times the banks don’t want to deal with having to foreclose a home, so they will allow the owners to sell it during the pre-foreclosure period. You can get a great bargain in buying a pre-foreclosed home.

Here are some of the reasons many real estate professionals prefer purchasing a pre-foreclosed properties rather then waiting until they reach foreclosure:

- Pre-foreclosed homes are sold for less than foreclosed homes. A homeowner will sell their pre-foreclosed home for low cost so they won?t have to face foreclosure.

- Since you won?t be at an auction, you will be given more time to talk to the home owner about any questions you may have concerning the house.

- You won?t have to worry about things becoming hectic like they would at a government auction.

- More time to evaluate financial scenario then at an auction.

- You will be given more time to access and evaluate your finances before buying a pre-foreclosed home.

- You can bring an inspector along with you to inspect the pre-foreclosed home. You will be given more time to have it looked over.

- You don’t need all the cash up front like you would at an auction. You can pay a down payment for as low as a few hundred dollars!

As with any house purchase make sure you check for any judgements, or liens against the estate. Bring along someone how is familiar with buying real estate and if possible have the house professional inspected. The risks are comparable to a traditional type of home purchase but with the advantages of foreclosure discounted pricing.