Visit the Hud Homes website. They post homes for sale and offer dates of real estate auctions that they host in different states. Be sure to find a HUD Realtor to help you with the bidding process. Most of us do advertise our qualifications, so that prospective buyers can find us!

Thu Jun 5 2008, 11:30

I have had some luck with with using the methods in the attachment below.

Fri May 23 2008, 07:55

Lisa offers some good ideas, though I disagree with her that it's difficult to find them. It's actually pretty easy.

Postcards and direct mail work well. So do ads on CraigsList.

You're apparently an investor. That's fine; so am I. Find an investor-friendly Realtor and have him/her daily supply you with expired and withdrawn listings. Lots of people in financial distress try to sell their properties (as regular sales, not short sales) first. Problem is, when they're upside down they're trying to sell for more than current market value. As a result, they're overpriced and not selling. I didn't fully realize this until I did a postcard mailing to Expireds. Got a lot of calls from people who were upside down.

Also, as you know, a lot of people facing foreclosure are in denial. They think, somehow, that they'll be able to come up with the money to get out of the jam. Maybe someone will lend it to them. A friend. A relative. Whatever. So, in your marketing, don't just focus on "Avoid Foreclosure." Experiment with messages that are broader--"Cash for Your House" or even "Financial Problems? We Can Help." Yes, they're looking for financial solutions, but they may not yet be at the point of realizing they're going to need to sell at a discount and lose their home.

Remember: As an investor, you're not looking for "homes in default." It really doesn't matter to you whether they're in default or not. What you're looking for are motivated sellers. Or, if you catch them early enough, simply motivated owners. They can see the problem looming. Your goal is to come along and offer them a workable solution. Refocus on the owner and the motivation, not the property and its legal status.

Hope that helps.

Fri May 23 2008, 06:00

Hi Adam, Lisa offered one of the methods but the legal news is to late...when they show up there the foreclosure papers have already been filed. Here is a thought and you can contact me directly if you are interested. I manage18 websites around Michigan including in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Benton Harbor, Lansing, Jackson, Ann Arbor forhttp:// www.HomesByOwner.com.
I have a section on my website for advertising of services. What I am finding is many people that are in trouble and do not have the room to pay a brokerage few are using my sites as an alternative to sell before the sheriff is at the door. This may be a good option and is certainly a very productive alternative to newspaper advertising.

Sincerely,
Gary L White, Broker
FlexIt Realty

Fri May 23 2008, 04:20

It's tough to find them before they are in the default stage. I use the legal news in my area to help find potential listings and help people get those short sales before foreclosure hits. I think you'd have to catch them early. You could always try a mailing campaign. Maybe try areas were you notice a lot of foreclosures and mail postcards offering your solution. You could try an add on craiglist or even the local newspaper. You may also want to find a handful of agents who also market for the same type of thing and team up with them. If you need any names of agents, I'd be more than happy to browse my network of agents to find you a few great agents who can help with this type of thing.

Mon May 12 2008, 13:34