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.

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!

Paul will show you step-by-step how you can strike it rich in the New Year during a FREE 90-minute online training presentation entitled, “Flip Houses Today for Massive Profits Tomorrow,” on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 9 p.m. ET. For more details on this fantastic opportunity to learn the real estate ropes from one of the best in the business click here … spots are limited!

Foreclosure.com Director of Education, Linda Yates, will show you how to begin 2009 on the right foot in a FREE Webinar training presentation, which is dubbed “Make 2009 $hine with Real Estate Foreclosures,” on Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m. ET.

When the market is booming, foreclosures are few and far between — homeowners in good economic times more often than not have the wherewithal to stay current on their mortgages. They also have the upper hand when it comes to selling, enjoying the luxury of considering multiple offers … usually all at or more than fair market value.

Accordingly, the opportunities to capitalize on bank-owned homes are minimized.

However, in a situation that we are currently experiencing, which is the result of unaffordable Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loans, job losses and utter financial turmoil, foreclosure homes are more readily available. And, with inventories soaring across the board lenders are looking to liquidate sooner rather than later to avoid crushing carrying costs.

Always remember: Banks are in the money business and not real estate sales.

Therefore, there is a ton of money to be made RIGHT NOW for those smart (and brave) enough to capitalize on these amazing deals. Banks are basically letting homes go for a fraction of their true values.

Linda is set to show you how to strike it rich in real estate in 2009 during this 60-minute FREE online training session. Linda will breakdown the entire process from A to Z, ensuring you know exactly how to get your feet wet before it’s too late.

This is a “must-see” presentation that is designed to help you cash in on a starving market and earn money hand-over-fist. It’s going to be a Happy New Year indeed … make 2009 your most profitable year ever by taking advantage of deals that only come around once in a lifetime!

To register or to learn more about “Make 2009 $hine with Real Estate Foreclosures” click here. It’s totally FREE!

Than Merrill — star of A&E’s hit TV show “Flip This House” who is also among the nation’s most successful real estate investors — was a recent featured speaker during a dynamic Foreclosure.com Webinar entitled, “Make $20,000 While You Sleep.”

And what a pleasure it was to have Than as one of our Webinar speakers!

We learned some great time-saving ways to market distressed real estate. Than shared his personal story with us on how he got started, mistakes he made and how he is making money hand-over-fist while he sleeps and goes on vacations.

Than also covered the importance to have a system and what automation will do for your business.

His enthusiasm was contagious. Along with sharing FREE sites to market your real estate flips, he provided the tactical plan to be effective in developing your buyer’s list.

I am sorry if you missed this education-filled Webinar. The good news is that you can catch it on the On Demand section of our Web site anytime, anywhere! CLICK HERE.

Than was worried no one was laughing at his jokes … I assured him that his Mom who always listens to his presentation would approve!

Check out “Make $20,000 While You Sleep” with Than Merrill today! CLICK HERE.

Check out the best real estate investment training around that ensures you cash in on hot foreclosure deals with easy-to-understand instruction from Tara-Nicholle Nelson in a one-of-a-kind 90-minute Webinar educational session.

“Simple Steps to SMART Foreclosure Buying” is a LIVE Webinar presentation that is set for Wednesday, October 1 at 4 p.m. ET. To catch — and register for — the instructional session CLICK HERE.

In this special session, Tara — Founder & CEO of REThinkRealEstate.com, as well as a successful real estate broker, attorney, author and columnist — breaks down the foreclosure buying process into the essential steps you can understand to get the property — and the profits or discounts — you want each and every time.

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

• Insider secrets for drama-free foreclosure buying, including online tools for making your life easier during the process
• Mortgage “a-ha’s” — the new rules of the mortgage market and the biggest obstacle to buying a foreclosure made SIMPLE
• Three shortcuts to smart online foreclosure house-hunting, including the 10 favorite sites of real estate insiders and how to use them to find and analyze a smoking deal
• Buyer beware! The five most costly mistakes foreclosure buyers make and how to avoid them
• Doing deals with the bank — insights and secrets to get your offers accepted and your deals closed

Simplify and demystify the often intimidating prospect of buying foreclosures and flipping them for enormous mountains of money — the time is NOW!

Hurry before it’s too late … the market is ripe to find downright unbelievable home bargains. And Tara is ready to take you by the hand and show you step-by-step that the foreclosure foreclosure process as easy as 1,2,3!

Join us LIVE for the “Simple Steps to SMART Foreclosure Buying” LIVE Webinar presentation on Wednesday, October 1 at 4 p.m. ET. 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.

Learn about a proven “turnkey” real estate money-making system and unlock the secrets to flipping riches with Than Merrill — star of A&E’s hit TV show “Flip This House” during a FREE 90-minute online real estate training presentation.

“Make $20,000 While You Sleep” is a LIVE Webinar educational session that is set for Wednesday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ET. To catch — and register for — the instructional session CLICK HERE.

Than is among the nation’s most successful real estate investors. And this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn how to find amazing house deals at 65 cents on the dollar or less from the former NFL player turned multi-millionaire “flipper.”

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

• How to find deals 30 to 50 percent below market value consistently
• How you can outsource many of your marketing needs so you can focus on buying properties
• How to build your buyers list and automate the sales process so you don’t have to worry about getting properties sold in today’s market
• How to jumpstart your real estate investing career and pick up a check for $20,000 in the next 30 days
• How to get your properties SOLD in today’s market for TOP DOLLAR fast!
• Online business management tools you can use to automate every area of your business.

So what are you waiting for? Than is going to show you play-by-play how to work the system and rake in cold hard cash virtually overnight … at absolutely no cost to you!

Join us LIVE for the “Make $20,000 While You Sleep” LIVE Webinar educational session on Wednesday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ET. CLICK HERE.

Remember to act fast because seats are limited!

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.