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.”

Read the rest of this entry »

“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.

The United States Department of Commerce today issued a report, indicating that perhaps the national housing market is on the road to recovery.

For the third consecutive month single-family home sales have increased. In fact, from May to June 2009, the seasonally adjusted annual rate grew 11 percent to 384,000.

It’s the most dramatic rise in nearly a decade (Dec. 2000), according to the report. And historically low interest rates, as well as the government-sponsored $8,000 tax credit, have a lot to do with the improvement.

Of course, the new home sales figures would more than likely be significantly better if buyers/investors weren’t aggressively pursuing foreclosures and other distressed real estate deals. Remember that foreclosure-related home purchases today account for nearly half of all homes sold on the market.

It’s a staggering statistic … especially if you’re on the house hunt.

So rather than getting beat to the punch, you’re best bet is to frequently check out what’s available in your target buying area. And if you don’t have time to keep track of all the great deals that come along literally daily, then we recommend signing up to receive our FREE foreclosure email alerts.

Enjoy the selection and assortment of great real estate fortune while it lasts — it doesn’t happen very often.

… are heating up the Nevada desert, according to an Associated Press report:

“In the Las Vegas area, home inventories are down nearly 10 percent since March, according to data from the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. Last month, 4,702 homes were sold in southern Nevada, a record number; 74 percent were foreclosures. Las Vegas real estate agent Jonathan Abbinante said he has clients who are making three offers a day on homes they’ve never seen.”

It makes sense — Las Vegas was among several major areas that experienced tremendous (albeit inflated) home value increases during the real estate boom several years ago.

Now with a large inventory of distressed homes from which to choose and lower prices, the best foreclosure deals in and around “Sin City” are being gobbled up by speculators with cash to invest. And banks prefer cash over long-term loans because it helps balance their books quicker, squeezing first-time homebuyers out of the picture.

Indeed, it’s common for traditional buyers these days to be outbid by several different interested parties on bank-owned homes that are priced right. That goes for just about any desirable area, not just Las Vegas.

You’re best bet is to take action before it’s too late — real estate is moving despite what you may hear on the local news. And foreclosures are typically the first to go … the numbers don’t lie.

If you’re in the market for Las Vegas foreclosed homes click here. If you’re an agent who would like to sell Las Vegas foreclosed homes click here.