Daily, thousands of homes go into foreclosure because the owners are not able to keep up with their current mortgage payments. If you want to find a great home you need to have access to these lists. Better yet pre-foreclosure listings would be the best bet because it helps both the buyer and  the homeowner.

Pre-foreclosure listings contain homes that will soon be in foreclosure. If a home can be purchased before foreclosure, you would be negotiating with the home owner. These homes can usually be purchased for the amount the owner owes the bank. If they can pay off the outstanding loan, they will avoid negative marks on their credit and you will have gotten a piece of property for far below the market value.

You may wish to join a website that lists pre-foreclosures, bank owned, and government owned foreclosures. Many of these sites have practical information on several topics relating to foreclosures, how to stop them, how to buy them, and what to expect. For instance, if you are in danger of foreclosure you will find information on how to avoid and resolve the situation before your credit is ruined. You will find common loss mitigation techniques and the documentation you need to work it out.

Investing in real estate can be a lucrative business. Pre-foreclosure listings will give you an edge over the competition, as many people will wait until the property is in foreclosure before making a move. If you can negotiate with the homeowner and their lenders you will see that, many times the asking price will be the price of the outstanding loan.

Here are a few tips to help you find pre-foreclosure listings:

1. A search of public records at the County Clerk, or County Recorder’s Office will gain you access to a list of properties in danger of foreclosure, and those that have already been foreclosed upon. Ask for a Notice of Default, or Notice of Sale. There is no cost to search public records.

2. Perform online searches for pre-foreclosure listings, you will be able to pay a weekly fee to have access to several lists on distressed properties. Some of these sites offer a free trial to see if the site is the one you want to work with before you commit. Such sites offer several listings from pre-foreclosure listings to government foreclosure listings, and they are updated daily. If you find that a site does not update the listings often, do not become affiliated with it. You will want fresh leads when it comes to foreclosure listings. Once you find a good website, you will find that the lists will include– the owners name, address, loan amount, and contact information. If you are looking for bank foreclosures, you will find them online, and many of them are listed on the bank’s website.

3. You may also want to try local newspapers where you will find Notice of Sale ads. It is required that the State or County, publish for the public, all sale notices.