When it comes to distressed real estate, a clean title absolutely essential.

Title searches become especially critical for short sale and foreclosure transactions because liens on a property transfer with property ownership. That means that you could be stuck with an outrageous bill even though the previous owner caused the lien to occur in the first place if you’re not careful.

Indeed, any encumbrances incurred by the previous owner could become the next owner’s problem. And if that next owner is you, you may be in for a very unwelcome shock.

The July 2011 edition of Foreclosure.com’s free educational newsletter, “Investment Exchange,” is now available, which familiarizes you with title searches and how to get them done, for free if you’re so inclined (and diligent), as painlessly as possible.

Your success as an investor depends on it.

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

America’s number one source for the most up-to-date distressed real estate information to provide national foreclosure listings to the industry’s leading interactive social and business networking site.

Foreclosure.com today announced that it will power the foreclosure channel on RealtyJoin.com, an online networking resource that helps real estate investors, service providers and other professionals find relevant opportunities and connect with the people they need.

Real estate professionals and other website visitors can easily access the listings free for a limited time at http://www.realtyjoin.com/foreclosure-listing/.

“It’s no secret that foreclosures represent tremendous investment opportunities for homebuyers and investors to make – or save – large sums of money,” said Stephen Chip, director of business development, Foreclosure.com. “First-time homebuyers, experienced investors and even agents, among others, want to search for the best foreclosure deals in their areas quickly and efficiently. And they can now do that seamlessly at RealtyJoin.com as a result of this partnership.”

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What is adverse possession? We touched on it more than a year ago when it happened on Washington. To read the article click here.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter R. Kelly has not paid the mortgage on his 11,140 sq. ft. mansion in Olympia Fields, Ill., in more than one year, according to ChicagoRealEstateDaily.com.

As a result, J.P. Morgan Chase has filed a foreclosure notice on the luxurious two-story home, which “sits behind an imposing gate on a 3.7-acre site” and “features six full bathrooms, seven half-baths and a four-car garage,” among many other amenities.

Kelly, who purchased the south suburban Chicago estate more than a decade ago, has to get current on the $2.9 million outstanding balance or risk having it repossessed by the lender. Its current appraised value is estimated to be $3.5 million.

The report indicates that Kelly has not lived at the home for more than a year and made a deliberate “strategic default’ decision, hoping to trigger a loan modification by defaulting on the loan. It doesn’t appear, at least for now, that a loan modification is in the works for the “I Believe I Can Fly” crooner.

Throughout his career, Kelly has amassed an impressive library of hits as a singer, as well as a record producer. He should be, by no means, strapped for cash. However, the 44-year-old has also had high-profile legal battles along the way, including several charges of child pornography.

Then again, perhaps he’s just not interested in throwing good money after bad on a home that he no longer wants.

Carnie Wilson, one-third of the popular Wilson Phillips vocal group, is in danger of losing her home in Los Angeles, Calif., to foreclosure, according to TMZ.com.

The report indicates that Wilson is owes her lender more than $1.6 million on the property, as well as late fees and penalties for missed payments. And if she can’t get current or work out a deal, her house will head to public auction as soon as July 21, 2011.

Wilson has responded to the report, saying that the home is “in a short sale situation” and that everything “is so great with [her] family and [her] life.” So great, in fact, that they have already moved into a new place, according to Zap2It.com.

During her time with Wilson Phillips in the early 1990s, she sold more than 12 million albums, which included three number one singles songs. Wilson, who recently made a cameo appearance in the blockbuster “Bridesmaids” film, is married with two children.

She appeared on the “Celebrity Fit Club” in 2006, hoping to overcome her lifelong battle with obesity once and for all. Wilson managed to lose more than 20 pounds on the show, but gained it back shortly thereafter.

For more celebrity foreclosure-related news click here.