Dry cleaner. Electrical engineer. e-Trader.

These are just a handful of the different professions of the individuals who take me up on the invitation to learn the foreclosure and auction process.

Every time I take a class to the Palm Beach County Courthouse there is always something new to learn — there is never a dull day.

For example, this past week there was a property that was valued at $150,000 that went for $30,000. The bidding started at $12,000.

It’s because of deals like this that the crowds at the courthouse are beginning to grow. Savvy investor groups are sprouting everywhere. They understand that deals can be had and that now is the time to invest.

So what are you waiting for? You could be missing the deal of the century … or several of them.

Come see what you are missing by joining us for a free courthouse tour — we’re happy to show you around each week!

Linda Yates, Director of Education at Foreclosure.com, conducts FREE auction education classes at the Palm Beach County Courthouse. The class will teach you how to look up information on the properties for sale, then you will attend a live auction to see how the auction process works. To make a reservation for the class call 1-866-382-2439. You MUST have a reservation because class sizes are limited.

Foreclosed homes aren’t just great deals for potential homebuyers — renters, too, can enjoy the savings.

More and more homeowners and investors are realizing they bit off more than they could chew with their current mortgage commitments. It’s among the many reasons foreclosures are up across the board.

When the payments become just too much to handle, these homeowners and investors have few options other than to sell, rent or simply walk away and lose their homes to foreclosure.

The latter option, foreclosure, is really the worst of the bunch.

But sometimes it happens so fast — in as little as one to three months in several states — that homeowners and investors are left spinning, wondering what just happened to them.

The good news is that these folks are starting to catch on and realize that these are ideal rental conditions. Why lose a home when you can find someone else to move in and pay all or most of the mortgage bill?

Indeed, homeowners would prefer to rent their homes rather than to lose them outright.

Of course, homes in foreclosure are not necessarily always on the market as rentals. In fact, homeowners and investors may not even know that renting is an option.

That’s where you come in.

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BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 6 — Foreclosure.com today announced a partnership with SmartZip, Inc. to provide homebuyers and investors with independent investment analysis for nearly two million distressed real estate listings nationwide.

Under the agreement, SmartZip.com users can rate and analyze foreclosure properties for their investment potential, and then seamlessly go to co-branded pages on Foreclosure.com to view detailed property information.

Likewise, while searching the nation’s most comprehensive database of distressed properties on Foreclosure.com, buyers/investors will be able to instantly see the SmartZip Score(TM) investment rating on every property, then link directly to SmartZip.com for more details on the rating and to analyze the property for its cash flow and return on investment potential.

“Potential homebuyers and real estate investors can now use Foreclosure.com and SmartZip.com to search, analyze and purchase homes that are not just great deals but also sound investments,” said Foreclosure.com Founder, President and CEO, Brad Geisen. “We share a common audience and jointly, we now provide invaluable resources that smart homebuyers can use daily to make better informed real estate purchase decisions. It’s a natural fit for both companies.”

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“Buy foreclosures now — before it’s too late“

That’s the bold headline today from an extensive article on CNNMoney.com. And if you’re among our many frequent visitors then it may look familiar — we’ve been passing along the same important message as often as possible.

Put simply, it’s an incredible time to purchase a home.

Prices are down across the board, allowing first-time homeowners to finally achieve the American Dream at prices they can afford. Desirable neighborhoods that were perhaps out of the question just a few years ago are now within reach.

But how long will these market conditions, and the once-in-a-lifetime prices, last?

Foreclosure.com Founder, President and CEO, Brad Geisen, shared these thoughts in the CNN write up:

“We’re seeing [foreclosures] go very quickly. Offers come in immediately after the listing comes on the market, within 24 hours…. In this market, if [lenders] can liquidate them fast, it makes more sense to get them off the books.”

Indeed, lenders are pricing properties to ensure that they “move fast.” That means unbelievable deals, which in turn creates multiple offers and very few counter offers.

Remember that foreclosed homes are typically — even in the best market conditions — already discounted. So what we are currently experiencing are deep discounts on already discounted homes. That attracts buyers, lots of them, meaning that the distressed real estate will be cherry-picked first before investors/buyers move on to other properties.

The numbers tell the tale — more than half of all recent real estate transactions involve some type of distressed real estate or foreclosure.

So the message is simple and clear: Don’t wait around. Find a great deal. Submit your best offer. Live the good life … for half the cost!

Start searching for foreclosed homes in your area today on Foreclosure at absolutely no cost with our FREE 7-Day Trial.

Boca Raton, Fla. — Aug. 3, 2009 — Foreclosure.com today announced that it is working with Fannie Mae to re-launch HomePath.com, improving the user experience and home-buying opportunities for individuals throughout the United States.

Fannie Mae’s HomePath.com site, which includes all Fannie Mae-owned properties, now runs on Foreclosure.com proprietary HelixII™ technology. It contains listings with comprehensive property details, including photos, maps, community statistics, complete address, contact information and more.

In addition, the latest version of the site has helpful community tools such as school information and demographics, as well as several calculators, to help future homeowners make more informed purchase decisions.

There is a wide selection of homes currently listed on HomePath.com, including single-family homes, condominiums and town houses, which are located in a variety of neighborhoods in all corners of the United States.

Interested buyers are able to connect with Fannie Mae listing brokers directly via telephone and e-mail contact information contained on these Web pages. These listing brokers will then walk buyers through the purchase process step-by-step, as well as introduce them to the best possible financing options offered through the HomePath® Mortgage Financing program.

“Now is a great time to buy homes,” said Brad Geisen, president and CEO, Foreclosure.com. “With the re-launch of HomePath.com, Fannie Mae has made it easier to locate them, as well as choose from several different desirable financing options. We’re thrilled that Foreclosure.com is able to facilitate this process because we, too, strive to help people achieve the American dream at prices they can afford.”

Foreclosure.com provides backend support to enhance search features on HomePath.com for Fannie Mae. Its proprietary platform, which has been tested and upgraded continuously since 1999, ensures data quality, stability and security at all times.

To view the site or to search Fannie Mae real estate listings nationwide visit www.HomePath.com today.