The 2011 real estate season may be mercifully winding down, but its investment scene continues to heat up.

If you ever dreamed of investing in a short sale, foreclosure, tax lien or any other type of distressed real estate situation, preparation is the key to success. And the sooner you get up to speed on whatever money-making plan you intend to hatch, the better it will be for your bottom line (savings or profit).

Even in this market climate, in which inventory is high and prices are at rock bottom, you can’t afford to be caught unaware.

It’s all about staying on top of what’s new and what’s changing in the real estate investment arena. That way, when that perfect property lands in your lap — the one that could be your forever home or your next big investment windfall — you’ll be ready to take action and scoop it up before someone else does.

The October 2011 edition of Foreclosure.com’s free educational newsletter, “Investment Exchange,” is now available, which shows you how to get your real estate investment career rolling right now.

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and you know what that means: Real estate resolutions. Seize the opportunity to get rich with distressed real estate right now before the thousands of well-intentioned “resolutioners” crowd the competition pool come January 2012.

To read this month’s free educational newsletter from Foreclosure.com CLICK HERE.

Pictured above, Apple’s Steve Jobs from our resident Mac maniac.

Sure, Halloween is still a few days away, but at Foreclosure.com we decided to celebrate a little early to ensure a fun, frightening Friday.

Several (but not all) of our employees were up for the task, coming into work today all decked out and even decorating their collective departments in specific themes. Prizes will be awarded later for the best costume, as well as the department that best came together to demonstrate their spooky team spirit.

Check out how the employees at Active Data Technologies, umbrella company to Foreclosure.com, get ready for Halloween. From zombies to federal agents, the Foreclosure.com crew goes all out when any holiday comes around:

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This is Halloween, this is Halloween …

While growing up, Halloween meant trick or treating in the cold windy evenings in rural Idaho, bobbing for apples at friends houses and eating candy to a point of feeling sick.

Now that I’m all grown up those traditions changed, but the fun never has.

Take a sneak peak at what is going on in our corporate headquarters, which is located in Boca Raton, Fla., in this creepy blog entry right here. My coworkers really get into the spirit of the season, so I decided to take you with me for a quick tour of how spooky it can be here at Foreclosure.com (a.k.a. Active Data Technologies!)

Department contests will be held later in the week for the best costumes, decorated work spaces and much more. Just all around fun!

Don’t let the ghosts or goblins scare you away from finding that great deal. BOO!

What is foreclosure? Foreclosure.com Director of Education, Linda Yates, talks about the foreclosure process in the video above, as well as how it’s different everywhere, depending on in which state you live and the laws (non-judicial or judicial) in place. From start to finish, Linda provides a high-level overview of the foreclosure process and the various stages included in it. She also explains the terms Lis Pendens, Real Estate-Owned (REO), Sheriff’s sale and other key words that are common in the foreclosure process.

Here is the scene this morning from RE BarCamp South Florida 2011, which is an all-day workshop held at The Boca Beach Club (Penthouse 2), a luxurious oceanfront location in Boca Raton, Florida.

What’s RE BarCamp, exactly?

REBarCampSouthFL.com explains it best:

“Essentially it’s a day full of technology-driven break out sessions led by other REALTORS® and industry professionals. The topics are put together as the attendees register. You walk in we hand you a piece of paper and if you think you have something interesting to talk about, you just write the topic down and place it on the board in an open time slot.”

It’s a great networking experience, as well as a great opportunity to learn from local professionals and pass along important industry information that we have gleaned at Foreclosure.com and our sister companies such as QuickSale.com, among others.

And with a view a view like this, it’s impossible to not feel inspired:

Yes, I actually took that picture this morning with my iPhone!