June 2008

Investment Exchange

An educational real estate newsletter

Sheriff Sales and Auctions

(Part I of II)

Part I  |  Read Part II

Experienced investors and beginners alike are often intimidated by the Sheriff Sale process. But fear not ... in this newsletter our mission is to get you better acquainted with foreclosure auctions so that you can navigate them easily, confidently and profitably.

A Sheriff Sale is basically a normal auction. At a typical Sheriff Sale, legal notices and property descriptions are read, and then bidding begins on a given property. The bidding process can be intense, especially if you're new to it, so read this newsletter carefully to learn how to land those real estate gems and avoid the duds.

You only want to attend the Sheriff Sales that you expect to be profitable for you, so do your homework beforehand to find the best listings. Foreclosure.com is top of its class for quality, accurate listings priced below market value. We've got listings throughout the United States, so it's very likely you'll conveniently find great deals in your area right on our Web site.

If you attend a Sheriff Sale and are the highest bidder on a distressed property, it's time to secure financing. Typically, you are given a brief grace period after you've won to get the money side of things sorted out. To assist you with this, Foreclosure.com offers a number of courses and Webinars to show you the ropes of financing your Sheriff Sale purchases.

In addition, we've jam-packed this month's newsletter with everything you need to get informed and excited about real estate investment so that you can tackle Sheriff Sales and make them make you money. Here's to a profitable summer!

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Site feature spotlight

EDUCATION = SUCCESS

Each facet of real estate investing is only as useful to you as the experience and education behind it. Therefore, it's critical that you take the time to learn as much as you can — it could mean the difference between making modest amounts of cash and becoming a millionaire through real estate.

That's the reason we've put together this brand-new, no-holds-barred audio course designed to prepare you for success in real estate investment. It's called "Get Rich Buying Real Estate Foreclosures" and it features Foreclosure.com Founder, President and CEO, Brad Geisen — a self-made millionaire, real estate tycoon and renowned educator.

Brad's six-CD course walks you through the foreclosure process so that you're ready and able to make millions. Get ready to learn:

• All about preforeclosures and Sheriff Sales
• Where to find those million-dollar deals
• How to secure the right financing
• Industry-proven marketing tips that put you ahead of the crowd

All of this and much more is available to you simply by purchasing "Get Rich Buying Real Estate Foreclosures." What makes this course unique is the quality of instruction. Brad's unmitigated success combined with his passion for sharing his expertise is going to get you on the right path ... fast.

Because we value our Foreclosure.com members so highly, we're also excited to be including the following educational bonuses, free of charge:

A special real estate training DVD with Brad Geisen

The most comprehensive glossary of real estate terms to help you understand everything from square one

Nearly 30 forms, checklists, contracts and other real estate documents to help you get started

This type of package retails for more than $2,200, but we're selling it to our members on our Web site for just $395! We're proud to be able to give you such a serious discount because we want to help you get off and running in your real estate investment career.

Remember, it's just a $395 investment now to prepare you for making millions. Act now! To purchase "Get Rich Buying Real Estate Foreclosures".

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Web site search tips

GET THE INSIDE TRACK

In today's tough market conditions, it's no surprise that there are amazing deals popping up around every corner. Many properties are so undervalued right now that Foreclosure.com is brimming with hundreds of thousands of deals, including many headed to Sheriff Sales all over the country.

Hunt down those dream deals by taking advantage of Foreclosure.com's unique "Deals" tab.

It works like this: any time our experts locate a property that is priced less than market value, we let you know instantly by including it in under the "Deals" tab of your search results. To browse these deals, first click on the state you're interested in and then the county. If you already know where you'd like to search, simply type in your zip code to see what's available.

If there are deals in your region of choice, they will show up under the rightmost tab — conveniently labeled "Deals" — on your screen. The list of results is shown a little further down the page. To refine your search, just complete the additional fields that suit your personal investment preferences.

You should be aware that the competition to find Sheriff Sales and other distressed property deals can be extremely fierce. Foreclosure.com's exclusive "Deals" tab is the ideal way to get the head start you need to get in on those undervalued deals ahead of the crowd.

If you don't see any deals in your desired area, keep checking — new below-market gems are being found every day!

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Hot off the press

REBATES ARE HERE!

This month, the government's "Economic Stimulus Payments" program is in full swing. About half of Americans now have their rebate checks in hand, with the remaining half expecting theirs before July 11. It can amount to a nice chunk of change — up to $600 per adult, plus an additional $300 for every child under the age of 17.

And that's not all.

Many of you are also receiving (or will be soon) your 2007 tax refund. The IRS reports that about 75 percent of individuals who file a tax return receive a refund, with the average check equaling around $2,000. If you are one of these people, you are in a prime position to start planning how to make that money work and grow for you.

Since you're interested in real estate investment, it's worth telling you that you can get started for very little money. In fact, your rebate check alone is more than enough to get you going.

Your first step, if you haven't done so already, is to start taking advantage of being a Foreclosure.com member. You'll enjoy access to phenomenal literature, programs, and educators to teach you everything you need to know. Of course, you'll also benefit from the nation's number one distressed property listings database.

Once you've found some properties you're interested in, compare each one with the amount of money you have available from your combined rebate, refund and any other sources you may have, to determine which are feasible investment properties for your budget.

You'll be surprised how far a few hundred extra dollars can stretch!

If you aren't sure whether or not you'll receive a rebate payment, make sure you don't miss out. To be eligible, you must file your 2007 tax return before October 15. Depending on your level of income, you will — in most cases — receive at least between $300 and $600.

Perhaps your rebate and refund won't equal a huge amount of money, but that small amount truly is all it takes to get started in real estate investing. Visit Foreclosure.com today to take the first step in turning those few hundred dollars into a few million!

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Our success stories

WE'RE INSPIRING YOU TO THRIVE

Foreclosure.com's Webinars are making wonderful differences in our clients' real estate investment careers. At least twice per month, aspiring investors can benefit from live training and mentoring on an array of subjects for seasoned investors, brand-new beginners and everyone between.

Here are just a few comments from our valued clients:

"This webinar was great, I'm really inspired!" — From Timothy W. after expert Linda Yates' "Want to be a Millionaire?"

"Great info, I'm new to the foreclosure business and researching ways to get started with very little money." — From Rick B. after educator Sharon Restrepo's "Foreclosure & Recession Proof Investments"

"Your topics are wonderful, thank you!" — From Jacqueline J. after guru Glen Daniels' "How to Rehab for Profit"

Live Webinars are a fantastic way to learn and interact with our expert instructors. Using your own computer, you can listen in, ask questions and get expert answers to your most pressing investment questions. It's a convenient, no-hassle way of getting the training you need to propel your real estate career forward.

We've got a few upcoming live Webinars perfect for getting you acquainted with real estate investment. Check out "Short Sale Package" with Sharon Restrepo to learn how to get lenders on your side, as well as "RED HOT Real Estate Investing in a COOL Market" with Andy Heller and "Recession Real Estate Money Machine" with Howard Small.

If you're interested in Sheriff Sales or any other aspect of real estate investment, these educational learning sessions promise to provide much insight and guidance.

If you miss out on a live Webinar, don't worry! Most of our Webinars are published to our website for easy, 24-hour on-demand access. It's a simple way to tap in to the training that you missed on the first go-round, whenever it suits your schedule. Take a look through our Webinars archive for sessions that interest you and check back often — it's updated frequently.

Our customers say that our Webinars are "very informative" and that our educators "know what [they're] talking about." It's yet another way that we commit ourselves to your success, because we truly want your investment experience to be both positive and profitable.

Perhaps one satisfied customer, Laureen T., says it best: "This is true: Foreclosure.com is the best in the industry. Brad [Geisen, CEO of Foreclosure.com] is brilliant, sounds terrific. I have always looked to Brad as a mentor through the years."

Thanks to you, Laureen, and to all of our clients, for your enthusiastic endorsements and your personal success stories. We're proud to be a part of your achievements.

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Real estate tips

BUYERS BEWARE

Properties at Sheriff Sales represent a fantastic opportunity to purchase way below market value. However, keep in mind that Sheriff Sale homes are almost always sold "as-is." This means that you need to take the initiative yourself to find out exactly what you're buying.

"As-is" can mean something as minor as dinged-up walls or filthy carpet, but it can also indicate much more serious problems. Plumbing disasters, electrical nightmares and crumbling foundations are just a few examples of costly issues you may encounter when purchasing "as-is." These problems will seriously eat away at your profits in the long run and may even make the house virtually unsellable.

So how do you avoid these money pits?

It takes research and homework. Often Sheriff Sale homes are not available for inspection, so you won't have the opportunity for an expert to give you the "all-clear." Instead you'll need to educate yourself so you can mitigate the risk of purchasing property at auction.

If you have the owners' contact information, try giving them a phone call. They may be able to tell you what problems — if any — are part of the purchase price. Better yet, start learning the red flags you need to watch out for yourself.

For example, if comparable properties have a much higher starting price, you can bet there's an expensive problem there. Use your common sense and ask as many questions as you can. Don't be tempted by low prices when you sense serious headaches ahead.

Finally, make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew. That way, if your investment doesn't quite earn what you'd hoped, at least you won't be breaking the bank. As long as you're careful and as informed as possible, your Sheriff Sale purchase should be a solid and successful investment for both your portfolio and your bank account.

To learn important details about handling Sheriff Sales expertly, take a look at Foreclosure.com CEO Brad Geisen's new CD course, which teaches you what you need to know — including which pitfalls to avoid — when dealing with Sheriff Sales.

It's this month's Site Feature Spotlight and you can also learn more about it here.

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Education Station

Timing is Everything

Successful real estate investing is all about timing.

It's critical that investors know their markets and can determine when to pull the trigger on deals to maximize profit potential. Of course, getting in to desirable areas when the prices are low is the ideal situation to ensure long-term cashflow.

That's because homes in emerging neighborhoods can increase in value exponentially and you don't even have to lift a finger.

Andy Heller — a "regular guy" who has struck it rich with real estate — knows all about finding red hot deals in cool markets.

He is grounded and down to earth with goals of long-term wealth building, focusing on the fundamentals of real estate investing.

For example, Andy encourages future investors to seek out advice from people who have been down the same road because this hands-on experience and knowledge can be a great advantage. It is also important to become an active participant and member of local real estate clubs and groups to learn as much as possible.

In addition, aspiring millionaires need to perform research, attend seminars and invest in well-rounded educational materials to avoid big mistakes that can cause them to sink before even getting a good start.

Put simply, those who invest in education will avoid costly mistakes and ultimately achieve success.

Therefore, gather as much information as possible on the investment niche you are interested in and start slowly. Competency is gained with experience. Consequently, over time you are able to manage more properties in less time.

This is a path the Andy followed to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The fruits of his efforts are seen in the people who use his program to succeed. He is elated that people succeed with his program and achieve their goals.

In fact, one of Andy's student's success stories was featured in Fortune magazine. According to Andy, requests came in to speak and teach around the country when the same publication profiled real estate investment books for wealth building and featured Andy's "Buy Low, Rent Smart, Sell High" book as one of the top five strategies recommended for wealth building through real estate.

It's been a long, bumpy road for Andy — he had no formal training when he began real estate investing. He just had the will to succeed because he desired long-term financial security for him and his young family.

And that's what is so special about his education model ... it's family friendly.

It's all about finding a way — your own way — to dedicate yourself and implement the appropriate principles. The best kind of wealth comes with long term security and the confidence in knowing you have the ability to provide for your family.

So do you want to get in on the action NOW and buy LOW while the real estate market is soft to rake-in MASSIVE long-term profits? Andy is set to reveal his successful formula during a FREE Foreclosure.com online learning session.

To learn more about the educational workshop and to reserve a spot at no cost CLICK HERE.

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