7 Tips for Foreclosure Property Investing

With foreclosures rising nationwide, prices falling, and inventories swelling to historic levels, investors with a discerning eye and knowledge of the foreclosure process can build a profitable portfolio of distressed properties, says James Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosure data.

Saccacio offers this basic advice to foreclosure investors:


* Know your market. The most important tool in your real estate investing toolbox is knowledge of the area where you plan to invest.

* Develop an appropriate investment strategy. Find an investment strategy that will work in your market, and then do what it takes to implement that strategy.

* Make the foreclosure process work for you. Decide what foreclosure buying technique works best with your investment strategy and your strengths as a person.

* Scrutinize each deal. Many real estate investors wrongly assume that if a home is in foreclosure it's a good deal.

* Rely on a trustworthy team. You'll be in over your head if you try to do all the work involved in foreclosure investing on your own.

* Network with banks and lenders. In a slow real estate market, banks and other lenders are saddled with larger inventories of foreclosed properties and will be more motivated to sell those properties at bargain prices.

* Act quickly, but don't be in a hurry. A slow real estate market gives you the upper hand as a buyer, but you'll still need to act quickly to get the best deals.


— REALTOR® Magazine Online