HGTV’s FrontDoor.com compiled two season-appropriate, and very different, lists:

Tricks

1. Every foreclosure is a bargain — Just because a house has a cheap price tag, doesn’t mean that it will be a good investment.
2. Buying a foreclosure property is like buying any other property — Foreclosure deals usually involve multiple parties and specific laws. Seek out a foreclosure expert.
3. Going into foreclosure is better than paying a mortgage you can’t afford — Foreclosure has major legal, tax and credit consequences and should be a last resort.

Treats

1. Homeownership is affordable — There really are well maintained foreclosure properties out there, some for as little as 50 percent below their market value.
2. Banks are motivated to get rid of their inventory — Banks want to get non-income-producing properties off their books as quickly as possible, which translates to competitive pricing for consumers.
3. The right foreclosure can be a good investment — Whether a foreclosure purchase is destined for renting or flipping, the right property can be profitable.

Remember you can find your treat on Foreclosure.com. Our nationwide database of more than 2 million distressed real estate listings is FREE to search for seven days. Cancel at anytime.

No tricks!

To check out the complete article head over to FrontDoor.com.

WMBF News today put together a nice punch list of things that homeowners today “need to know” before buying a foreclosure … or any other type of home for that matter.

Check it out:

1. Double-check your credit — Check your credit report immediately to be sure it does not show any incorrect information.
2. Talk to lenders — Check rates and offers from several mortgage professionals to find one you with whom you want to work.
3. Home prices are still low — Now is an excellent time for a home investment.
4. Interest rates are still good — Mortgage interest rates have dropped again to about 5 percent annually.
5. You must have savings — A down payment is essential today.
6. Know all costs of ownership — A rule of thumb is to budget 1 percent of the home’s purchase price per year for upkeep.
7. Buyer beware — Invest in a home inspection before agreeing to purchase any home.

Foreclosure.com currently features more than 2 million distressed real estate listings in its nationwide database, including preforeclosures, foreclosures, Sheriff sales, bankruptcies, tax liens, auctions and much more. In short, we have a house for everyone … at the most affordable price.

So use the tips above, search our Web site for the best deals in your area and live your own American dream while the conditions are in your favor. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often.

To search for homes and other cheap real estate deals — often up to 50 percent off — right now click here.

Right now there are so many great discounted properties available throughout the nation that you can essentially “steal” them for dirt cheap prices.

On top of these amazing deals, as well as the limited-time tax credit for first-time homebuyers that expires on Dec. 1, 2009, banks are still offering fantastic mortgage rates to encourage spending.

In fact, rates recently dropped to less than 5 percent!

Mortgage applications have skyrocketed thanks to this “perfect storm” that has created ideal homebuyer conditions.

How can you not be tempted to capitalize on these opportunities of a lifetime?

All these facts add up to one major point: for the right property, the numbers make good, solid “cents” right now. There has literally never been a better time to get into distressed property investment.

The September 2009 edition of Foreclosure.com’s free educational newsletter, “Investment Exchange,” is now available, which is all about helping you figure out how to get your hands on the money you need to get started in distressed property investing.

We touch on everything, from funding options to tips for raising your credit score. We also cover how you can accomplish it all without experiencing any of the headaches that can often deter first timers.

So get ready to learn everything you need to know about financing your dream home at the best possible terms! Check out “Fund the Deal” today and get going before it’s too late — remember the clock is ticking to lock-in the best terms and incentives!

To read this month’s free educational newsletter from Foreclosure.com CLICK HERE.

We’ve all heard great things about investing in foreclosures, whether it’s watching real estate flippers do work their magic on television or listening to how that “friend of a friend” is making money hand-over-fist rehabbing homes.

Chances are you’ve even wondered what it might be like to try it yourself, but never did anything about it because you didn’t know where to begin.

Well, we’ve got good news: Foreclosure.com and Williams & Williams have joined forces to show you step-by-step how to navigate and profit from the foreclosure process in an upcoming Webinar presentation.

“Outsmart Experts at Foreclosure Auctions and Win!” is a LIVE 60-minute Webinar training session that is set for Thursday, February 26 at 9 p.m. ET. To participate in — and register for — the FREE online instructional session CLICK HERE.

Elsa Lewis — Williams & Williams Senior Vice President of National Sales/REO — will explain in amazing detail the simple steps required to find, participate, bid and cash-in on the best real estate deals available in your area for the best possible prices.

Here are just some of the topics that Elsa will cover:

• Understanding the true value of real estate by conducting due diligence before bidding
• Complete knowledge of the auction process from A to Z
• How to obtain financing and spend next to nothing on a great home
• Where to find an auction near you
• Understanding auction language and bidding with confidence

This training course will increase your confidence in the auction process, providing you with tips, skills and knowledge to purchase discounted homes that are priced well below your budget. Knowledge is critical to outwit and outsmart the competition — become a master of the foreclosure mind game today and laugh all the way to

Register for “Outsmart Experts at Foreclosure Auctions and Win!” before it’s too late — it won’t cost you a single cent! Spots are limited and filling up FAST! CLICK HERE.

Webinars are LIVE educational sessions that let participants see, hear and interact with real estate experts right from their personal computer screens. In fact, Webinars are driven in part by visitor feedback and questions that are posed during the sessions. For more information and course offerings click here.

The New Year is a time for new beginnings, which is the reason we went back to the basics in our first edition of “Investment Exchange” — our free educational real estate newsletter — in 2009.

We touched on the “Big Three” foreclosure investment options, as well as the steps you need to make to begin making (or simply saving) money investing in real estate … and so much more.

Of course, it’s impossible to cash-in on these opportunities if you don’t get your feet wet, which is where most so-called “dreamers” fall short. Indeed, taking the first step is the most important, as well as the most difficult.

But we’re determined to start you off on the right foot.

It’s common to double or even triple your money in 90 days or less in real estate in today’s current market. You’d be hard-pressed to find a fund on Wall Street that guarantees that type of return on investment in such a short amount of time.

In fact, it’s more than likely impossible.

So why don’t more people take advantage of the seemingly endless opportunities around them and cash-in? It’s simple: Potential flippers and investors don’t know how or where to begin.

Until now!

The January 2009 edition of “Investment Exchange” has all the answers you need to get going … sooner rather than later. To check it out right now click here … it just came out today!

Let us show you how to capitalize on the amazing deals out there — it’s now or never!