In case you didn’t know, Foreclosure.com has partnered with Microsoft to ensure that you have the very best (and most detailed) mapping technology possible to facilitate your nationwide home search.

How’s that good for you?

Foreclosure.com Director of Business Development, Stephen Chip, explains:

“With distressed properties, photos are often unavailable, but our customers can use the bird’s-eye view to assess the property and the neighborhood.”

That’s right, you can now take advantage of the upgraded Foreclosure.com mapping environment with key new features, including the bird’s-eye view. We know that buyers interested in properties like to see them — to look at their context (the surrounding neighborhood, the roads, etc.).

So with Virtual Earth you can locate listings on the map choosing between a road-map, a satellite-image, or combination view. What’s more, you can zoom out to view a wide area, zoom in on a single property, or use the bird’s-eye view based on low-altitude aerial images taken from all four compass directions.

To check out a complete case study of how Foreclosure.com successfully integrated the latest map technology into its system visit Microsoft.com. And to see the maps in action, of course, head over to Foreclosure.com right now.

Time is running out to claim the $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit! We’re down to three months before the limited-time government-sponsored program expires on Dec. 1, 2009.

That might seem like enough time to get in on the action; however, finding, financing and then closing on a home can take as much as 90 days. And if it’s a short sale then the process will likely take longer … much longer.

So if you have any intentions of saving as much money as possible on the home of your dreams then the time to act is right now.

We decided to sweeten the pot, which will hopefully provide you with even more incentive to search for the best real estate deals in your area before the prices start climbing back up. And before the last-minute rush on the most affordable homes begins … if it hasn’t already.

For the next three months (Sept. 1, 2009 to Dec. 1, 2009) we are giving our blog readers and Twitter followers a special discount offer to search our nationwide real estate database of more than 1.8 million distressed real estate listings. We refer to it as the “Tax Credit Countdown.”

Foreclosure.com is already FREE to search for seven days — no strings attached, cancel at anytime. However, sometimes house hunters need more time to comb through and visit all the awesome deals right in their backyards.

Therefore, we’re slashing our monthly subscription — already among the cheapest in the industry — by 30 percent! That’s savings, on top of tax credits, on top of more savings (you can find homes up to 50 percent off on Foreclosure.com every day).

So how do you get started? It’s simple.

Just visit this registration page: www.foreclosure.com/registration.html?rsp=0 and insert the phrase “taxcredit” (no quotes … just taxcredit) where it says “Click here to enter a promo code” (see screen shot in the extended entry).

That’s it!

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It’s a real estate adage that is truer now than it ever was:

Location, Location, Location.

When you’re looking to get into the home of your dreams, location is going to be one of your key buying points. For example, is it in an appealing neighborhood? Is it conveniently located close to work and other oft-traveled destinations? Is it zoned for the top schools in the area?

Those same concerns also hold true for investors who are eager to purchase, renovate and flip homes for profit. Location is a major selling point — if you don’t have great location, you can be sure it will be a major strike against you in the minds of prospective buyers.

The July 2009 edition of Foreclosure.com’s free educational newsletter, “Investment Exchange,” is now available, which details how you can find a great home in an ideal location at a price you can afford.

The excitement of an opportunity-laden market like we are enjoying right now can sometimes cause you and other buyers to think that it’s impossible to lose; however, the reality is just the opposite — Yes, the market is ripe for the picking, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few bad apples in the bunch.

We’re here to help you make the right choice. The smart choice. To check out Location, Location, Location today be sure to click here.

Remember that “Investment Exchange” is a FREE resource that Foreclosure.com provides its site visitors. Sign up to receive the educational real estate newsletter each month at no cost right here.

Often homeowners need to sell their properties fast, whether it’s because of default situations, job relocations or some other unexpected life-changing events.

Under these conditions and time constraints selling homes can be stressful and seemingly impossible. That is of course unless there is a strong demand for homes in certain areas.

For those homeowners who need extra assistance Foreclosure.com now offers the services of knowledgeable and professional buyers in local areas across the nation who can help. For more information and assistance click here.

In addition, we have been showcasing several of the homes on our real estate forum. Of course, all of this marketing and exposure is FREE of charge. Our goal is simply to provide a space in which motivated buyers and sellers can connect and discuss all things real estate.

For example, Foreclosure.com recently received a submission from a seller about a beautiful home in Bradenton, Fla. It’s a two story Gothic Victorian in an historic neighborhood with a woodburning fireplace, updated kitchen, granite countertops, silgranite sink, formal living room, formal dining room, sun room, screened in front porch and more.

To learn more about this specific listing click here. For more details on how to post and find properties in the Foreclosure.com forum for FREE click here.

Remember: This forum is for buyers, sellers and all others interested in discussing real estate and having their questions answered by industry professionals.

Go check it out now right here.

Foreclosure.com now features a forum on its award-winning Web site.

That means that you can now discuss the latest real estate-related topics with experts, agents, brokers and other likeminded investors.

“It’s a real estate community that we plan to pack with useful information,” said Stephen Chip, Foreclosure.com Creative Director. “It’s a space where people can come and ask questions or just pick-up useful information and apply it to their investments.”

The forum allows first-time homeowners and experienced investors alike to share their real estate investing experiences and learn from one another. In addition, it will facilitate the transfer of knowledge among peers and minimize the amount of time investors spend on research.

“The forum is a great place to find a contractor, for example, in a certain area,” said Chip. “Other forum visitors can recommend a company to do the work based on previous experiences. That’s just one very small benefit of an extremely beneficial real estate resource.”

“Bookmark it right now,” concluded Chip.

The forum is new and will grow over time with the continued participation of our visitors.

So what are you waiting for?

Head over to the Foreclosure.com real estate forum right now. Click here.