Tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 6), to be precise.

The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly (403-12) passed the initiative, which also extends the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers until April 30, 2010.

President Barack Obama is expected to officially sign off on the legislation before the upcoming weekend.

So what’s it all mean?

Essentially, if you have been living in your current home for at least five consecutive years (and you own it, of course), the federal government will reward you with up to $6,500 to purchase a new home. However, you must close on the new house no later than June 30, 2010, to receive the bonus.

It’s a great incentive for empty nesters, downsizers, upgraders and basically anyone else who wants to relocate or enjoy a change of scenery … and get rewarded for it.

Get a head start and begin your new home search today at Foreclosure.com. We have the best real estate deals in your area featured in our comprehensive database of more than 2 million nationwide listings.

Happy hunting … and congratulations in advance!

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.

Gregory Holm (a photographer) and Matthew Radune (an architect) plan to freeze a foreclosure home in Detroit, Mich., and demolish it in spring 2010 to draw more attention to the alarming default situation that has plagued “Motor City” for several years now.

“Ice House Detroit” — one of more than 13,600 active distressed properties in Wayne County, according to third quarter 2009 statistics from Foreclosure.com — will eventually be razed and donated to the community when the unique project is complete sometime in 2010.

The two “artists” came up with the idea of spraying a house with water and freezing it while studying architecture at Rice University in Houston, Texas. It just so happens that Radune feels Detroit is the ideal canvas for their work.

Here’s a snip from Yahoo!:

“It’s a project that couldn’t be done in the same way in New York City and it wouldn’t necessarily make the same sense. Detroit was a place where we could make it into more than architectural installation.”

Holm and Radune have yet to select a specific abandoned house in the region. Once they do they will take photographs of the transformation of the house, which will be featured in a book and possibly a documentary film.

We’ll keep you posted on their progress as it becomes available. In the meantime, feel free to check out their “Ice House Detroit” Web site right here.

That’s how Kendi Kiogora, a 28-year-old first-time home buyer, described her recent experience at a Chicago-area auction, anyway.

And when you hear about the deal (or steal) she made off with it’s hard to argue otherwise.

Kendi purchased a “one-bedroom, one-bath apartment in Chicago’s trendy South Loop neighborhood, with skyline views and heated parking, for just $105,000,” according to Reuters.com feature today. The final sale price was $62,000 less than its last listing and well below true market value.

Her good fortune is just more proof that it’s a buyers market. Plain and simple. Opportunities to buy homes at deep discounts have never been better than they are right now.

And according to Dave Webb of Hudson & Marshall, one of the biggest players in the real estate auction business, more amazing deals could flood the market in the very near future.

Here’s a snip:

“The foreclosures are going to explode again.”

Why?

Mr. Webb points to moratoriums that have or are about to expire on foreclosures, which were put in place months ago by major lending institutions and banks to minimize defaults and stabilize the market.

However, this well-intentioned move may have just delayed the inevitable and, as the report suggests, an “avalanche of new repossessions” could be on the horizon.

So keep your eyes peeled in the coming days and months for your winning real estate ticket on Foreclosure.com. Or just use our FREE foreclosure email alerts and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for you.

To check out upcoming real estate auctions from Hudson & Marshall in your area click here.

Late 2010, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), which serves as the national association that represents the real estate finance industry.

Jay Brinkmann, MBA’s the chief economist, recently shared the prediction during the group’s annual conference in San Diego, California.

Here’s a snip via Bloomberg.com:

“Foreclosure rates will continue to climb through late next year, peaking only after the U.S. unemployment rate reaches 10.2 percent in the second quarter…. ‘This recession is like a hurricane: You’ve survived the storm and you have a big mess afterwards,’ [said Brinkmann]. The effects of the recession, which he said probably ended in July, will linger for ’some time’ in the form of higher unemployment, fewer mortgage originations and lower business development, he said.”

The good news is that there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.

In addition, it serves as yet another reminder that the “for sale” foreclosure inventory will soon begin to wane as fewer homeowners fall into distress and more buyers flood the market to capitalize on great deals.

Remember, foreclosures are often the first stop for smart house hunters and investors because of their value — you can typically get way more house and pay much less for it the closing table.

Start your search on Foreclosure.com today right here. It’s FREE for seven days. We also provide FREE email alerts, which keep you constantly on top of the best deals that pop up in your area … and you don’t even have to lift a finger. Click here.