August 2009

Investment Exchange

An educational real estate newsletter

FIND THE DEAL

What an exciting prospect! With so many hot properties still on the market, August could be the month you find that one amazing deal of a lifetime.

But how do you narrow down your selection with so many great opportunities from which to choose?

This month's issue of the "Investment Exchange" is all about helping you find your dream property in a market that is saturated with deep discount properties. Finding the property you want in that perfect area will be key to making it big, and this month we're going to show you how.

Our Webinars, community information and industry-leading distressed property database are all overflowing with information to help you find the property you need. Keep reading to learn about where to get those deals, as well as how you can capitalize on them within a matter of days using our one-of-a-kind QuickSale℠ listings.

August is also a very special month because it marks the official alliance between Foreclosure.com and mortgage industry giant, Fannie Mae. Read all about how we've teamed up to bring you even more of the best Real Estate Owned (REO) deals in America, as well as fantastic financing options, through HomePath.com in this month's "Hot Off the Press" section.

We're very excited to bring you this month's jam-packed newsletter to educate and inspire you. So let's get cracking ... happy hunting!

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Site feature spotlight

FIND A QUICKSALE℠, SAVE BIG

What exactly is a QuickSale℠?

It's a special type of discounted distressed property listing that is available for big savings. The owners of these properties are anxious to sell fast, working with their respective lenders to offer them at rock bottom prices (well below market value) to ensure that they do just that.

And you, with the help of a real estate agent, are invited to inspect QuickSale℠ homes in your area and place sealed bids on them online.

In addition, your agent can bid on a property direct from the listing on Foreclosure.com. If you've just got to have that killer property, click on the "Bid Now" button and make your offer! It's truly that easy!

Exciting? You bet! And starting now, Foreclosure.com is adding more QuickSale℠ listings to its database every single day of the week.

Because QuickSale℠ homeowners are motivated to sell, feel free to submit reasonable bids with which you are comfortable. All offers will be considered. Imagine the money you could make with a QuickSale℠ property!

Where does the "quick" part come in?

Well, you'll get the chance to inspect the property, usually during an open house, and can place your bid that very same day. QuickSale℠ owners usually have a team of people standing by for when a bid is accepted so that the paperwork can be drafted in a flash.

These properties often close in 15 days ... in the blink of an eye!

Getting your hands on a QuickSale℠ is exciting because of the rock bottom prices, but you'll have to act fast if you see a property you like. Low prices mean these properties are getting snapped up left, right and center.

Keep checking Foreclosure.com to be the first to know when a new QuickSale℠ hits the market ... and make sure you've got your agent handy so you're ready to put in an offer on the property steal of a lifetime!

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Web site search tips

SEARCH SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Today, more than 80 percent of buyers search for their golden deals online. Almost 50 percent of those who decide on a property are buying some form of distressed real estate. Here on Foreclosure.com, we've got just about two million distressed property listings for you to peruse.

That's a lot of numbers, but it doesn't take a math whiz to figure out that you've got some digging to do before you settle on a distressed property purchase. With so many people hopping onto the distressed real estate bandwagon, you'll want to get a leg up on the competition.

Do just that by getting involved in the Foreclosure.com community. We invite you to search our entire database for FREE with a 7-day trial and learn how you can find hot properties with less time and effort. It all starts with a Foreclosure.com "Power Search" tailored to your exact specifications.

Even the most Internet-phobic of you will love our intuitive search tools. Simply select the state and county you're interested in and you'll instantly be shown a list of all current distressed property listings in that area. Feel free to browse as you please or choose to refine your search even further.

The "Power Search" toolbar, which can be found at the top of the search results page, lets you find properties that specifically match your criteria. Looking for a three-bedroom in a specific zip code? Just put your information into the toolbar and you'll get a refined list that showcases your properties of interest.

You can specify your information as much or as little as you'd like.

In addition, you can also sort your search results by type of distressed property. For example, if you're looking for Sheriff Sales in your area, just click on the "Sheriff Sales" tab located along the top of the search toolbar. You can also search for preforeclosures, foreclosures, bankruptcies and more.

Want to really get a jump on the competition? Check out our FREE Webinar called "Cha Ching! Finding Money with Foreclosure.com." It takes you through all the powerful search tools on Foreclosure.com, plus:

• How to make money with the deals you find
• Research and finance tools that make number-crunching easier than ever
• A backstage pass to our learning center, your one-stop shop for distressed real estate education

In the real estate game, fast access to accurate information is key to coming out on top. Visit Foreclosure.com today to learn more about everything our powerful tools can do for your investment dreams.

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Hot off the press

FORECLOSURE.COM PARTNERS WITH FANNIE MAE

It's an unprecedented alliance in
real estate history and we couldn't
be more excited.

Fannie Mae, one of the country's leaders in financing the United States housing market, has teamed up with Foreclosure.com to revitalize its property Web site, HomePath.com.

The Web site is dedicated to connecting homebuyers with foreclosed properties in their areas. And now it's powered by the country's premier provider of distressed property listings: Foreclosure.com

That's right, we're delighted to tell you that we've helped engineer a brand new searchable interface for HomePath.com in the same easy-to-use, intuitive spirit of Foreclosure.com. We've shared our proprietary technology secrets with Fannie Mae to simplify and streamline the HomePath?? homebuying experience.

We call it HelixII^TM technology and using it has enabled the fastest searchable interface on the Web to come to fruition. Containing everything from full property details to community statistics, this goliath promises to wow investors, brokers and individual homebuyers alike.

Says Foreclosure.com CEO Brad Geisen:

"We're thrilled that Foreclosure.com was selected to facilitate this process because we, too, strive to help people achieve the American dream at prices they can afford. This is an effort between two like-minded companies working together for the benefit of future homeowners."

Using Foreclosure.com's revolutionary system, Fannie Mae has created a step-by-step process to make purchasing a foreclosure property easier than ever. The integration of Foreclosure.com's innovative tools into this process means that buyers will be able to make informed decisions to find the properties of their dreams.

HomePath.com has the added benefit of helping buyers find the best possible financing options for their potential purchases through the HomePath?? Mortgage Financing program. Customers can talk to HomePath?? financing specialists either through email or over the phone to get the industry's best advice on securing affordable financing.

Both Foreclosure.com and Fannie Mae have long been committed to serving
U.S. homebuyers by providing cutting-edge information and service to get them
the homes they want. Simply put, HomePath.com is a natural collaboration
between industry leaders.

Check out HomePath.com to see what the buzz is all about!

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Real estate tips

GET DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE

When we say we're experts at Foreclosure.com, we mean it. Our commitment to internal excellence means we make sure all employees know the ins and outs of the foreclosure process so they can share their expertise with you.

Part of this process is periodically taking Foreclosure.com employees through a foreclosure — literally — by having them attend live property auctions at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach, Florida.

All personnel from every department are invited to get the skinny on the foreclosure process first hand. It's one of the many ways we make the value that we offer you, the member, more tangible for our employees.

Of course, our employees are welcome to take advantage of everything that they learn working at Foreclosure.com.

Wouldn't it be great if Foreclosure.com offered these instructional courthouse tours to the public? Well, guess what? We do ... and it's absolutely FREE!

Linda Yates, Director of Education at Foreclosure.com, is leading this enlightening tour almost every week at the Palm Beach County Courthouse.

The aim of this tour is to get important information about the distressed real estate market to you. Not only is it a terrific way to get a feel for the foreclosure process, but it also shows you how the courthouse auction can turn your investment dreams into reality.

This tour is a real-life situation that will open your eyes to the realities of the distressed real estate business. Going to the courthouse will expose you to a group of investors who have made the courthouse their stomping grounds. You'll get a feel for the environment as well as the more nitty-gritty details, like examining notices of default and other documents that may have been filed.

Witnessing an auction firsthand will truly give you a new perspective on distressed real estate investment. Take advantage of this informative, exciting and free event by signing up here.

Who knows? You might even just walk away with a brand new home!

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Deals of the Month

HOT FORECLOSURE DEALS!

Bushkill, PA
$97,000
3 beds/2 baths
1,396 sq ft.

New Britain, CT
$104,900
6 beds/3 baths
5,082 sq ft.

Las Vegas, NV
$79,000
3 beds/2 baths
1,332 sq ft.

Linda's Learning Lane

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP

What do shopping and searching for real estate investments have common? Perhaps more than you think.

When you go shopping you either follow two different scenarios:

The first scenario would be that you are just "looking" and you probably don't have anything specific in mind. You roam the store aisles, browsing through windows and sales racks, but there isn't any direct focus in your actions. The second scenario is you shop because you have a clear picture of what you are looking for and the budget that you are willing to put forth.

The same holds true with real estate investing.

Some individuals who end up investing don't really have an action plan, encountering an opportunity that he or she just can't pass up. This can be really exciting, but there is also some extreme risk involved.

Part of the reason we are experiencing a foreclosure epidemic is that those shoppers without clear, focused plans saw their friends and co-workers jumping on the real estate wagon and believed they could make profits as well.

Those investors who are still profitable and still purchasing investments today are those who are clear and focused in what they are shopping for. They know how to find the right deals and, more importantly, what their exit strategies should be. Everyone who invests in real estate needs to have a plan and follow that plan.

Right now we are in the cycle of buy and hold.

Just as it is with making any successful purchase we need to be educated on the different elements involved in that purchase so that we come from a position of control. Many years ago I took class on textiles and learned that all fabric is not equal — there are different factors both positive and negative depending on the use.

The same basic concept holds true with real estate ... especially when it comes to purchasing a mortgage instrument. Every purchase has different pros and cons. And by understanding the intricacies involved we can save a lot of time and headaches.

The good news is that there are so many resources out there to tap into to get educated.

Check out our comprehensive library ("On Demand" and "What's Next" sections under "Training"). Another easy way is to start asking questions to those you know that are investing. By being curious and opening our minds we can attract opportunities into our lives that we could have never imagined before.

So in the end, shopping is good, right?!

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