It’s that time of year — prices are being slashed on just about everything with “Black Friday” week already upon us.

So we decided to toss our hat into savings pile. But it’s not just because everyone else is doing it.

On the contrary, we just returned from the 2009 Realtors® Conference & Expo in San Diego, Calif., which was held from Nov. 13 to Nov. 16. And one thing we all learned is that short sale transactions will comprise a significant amount of business for Realtors® for the next three to five years.

Whether you are a new agent or an experienced broker, now is the time to gain market share and pull away from your competition.

The Certified Short Sale Agent (CSSA) designation is an industry-recognized symbol of excellence and experience. It teaches Realtors® how to make short sales an effective and profitable part of their businesses.

Here are just some of the many benefits:

• Close more deals faster for bigger commissions
• Learn expert techniques to negotiate quick deals
• Get noticed by lenders as a preferred listing agent
• Reach the largest qualified buyer/seller pool
• Emerge as the most knowledgeable “go to” expert in your area

CSSA is a MUST have for any serious listing agent. And for this week only we have extended our NAR show special, which means that you can get CSSA certified NOW for our lowest price ever.

To take advantage of this limited-time discount training opportunity click here. If you have questions or need additional information feel free to call us anytime at (866) 382-4445.

• Foreclosure hits author’s childhood home http://bit.ly/6aMmuI SC #
• NAR Conference follow up – Certified Short Sale Agent Designation – http://eepurl.com/fbUp #
• NAR 2009 Conference – Certified Short Sale Agent certification discount extended! – #NAR09 – http://eepurl.com/e_QK AS #
• National Association of Realtors – Certified Short Sale Agent follow up – http://eepurl.com/e_QK #
• Check out the best places in America to raise your kids (According to Business Week): http://ffs.cc/a/ih2r9t TM #
• Philadelphia Gives Homeowners a Way to Stay Put. SC http://ffs.cc/a/9×7omj #
• Deal of the Day, Kokomo edition: 2 bed/2 br 1,340 sq. ft. Key Largo,FL, beach house. (130% under value!) http://ffs.cc/a/lw1g54 TM #
• Thank you to all the agents who stopped by to say hi at NAR. We enjoyed meeting all of you and thanks for the kind words. SC #

Calling all opportunistic real estate investors stateside and international:

Foreclosure.com wants to alert you to a 117-unit condominium complex in Miami Beach, Fla., which will be featured in an upcoming bankruptcy auction.

It’s a liquidation sale, meaning that it must be sold to the highest bidder. There is no reserve price and/or minimum bid.

Sound too good to be true? Well, it is … that’s the reason we’re passing the good news along.

The property comprises:

• Nine contiguous buildings
• A 117-unit condo project
• 53 unsold units
• 64 additional rentals in four buildings

We’re available to coordinate property inspections if you’re interested, as well as provide additional information and answer all questions on this awesome opportunity. This is your chance to potentially own a massive slice valuable Miami Beach real estate for a fraction of the cost.

Act now before it’s too late — the auction is scheduled for Dec. 2009!

Feel free to email our investment coordinator, Anthony Segrich, direct (aseg…@foreclosure.com) or call (561) 988-9669 ext. 7250. Serious investors only.

Sometime in 2010, according to the USA Today:

“A second wave of foreclosures is poised to hit the market, potentially undermining housing recovery efforts as more homes add to the glut of inventory and drive down prices. These homes largely represent loans that are delinquent but have not yet resulted in foreclosure sales.”

The reason? The report lists several:

• Moratoriums
• Overwhelmed lenders
• Modifications
• Asset write-downs

Add it all together and Mark Zandi from Moody’s, which is “among the world’s most respected and widely utilized sources for credit ratings, research and risk analysis,” predicts that about 2.4 million homes will be lost to foreclosure next year.

That’s nearly a half-million more defaults that occurred in 2009 based on their data.

If you’re in financial turmoil do everything you can as soon as possible to not add to that potential tally. Remember that professional foreclosure consultants can be reached right here.

It’s free help.

On the flip side, be sure to search Foreclosure.com today if you’re in the market to purchase a foreclosed home in your area. It’s FREE for seven days. Click here.

Why are seemingly rich and powerful stars such as Nicolas Cage, LaToya Jackson, Toni Braxton and Stephen Baldwin, among others, having foreclosure problems?

Forbes offers an explanation: