Pre Foreclosure Listings

Pre Foreclosure Listings the starting point to your profits

A good list is the starting point for investing in preforeclosures. You need to locate the foreclosure properties and get in touch with the owners to start the process. The accuracy, early access to data and the quality of the information (the right address etc...) are essential to good lists.

Free Foreclosure Lists - A Way To Start

Using free preforeclosure listings is a practical way to get get started in pre foreclosures investing . You can create these lists yourself if you have time and no cash - two ways:

by going to the court house in your county and researching new pre foreclosure listings data

or getting data online - depending what is available for your local area

Pre Foreclosure Listings in Your County

Every day - or every week - depending on the population base in your area, foreclosure trustees file notice of trustee sales (this name may vary where you live) at the county recorders office.

These filings generate the preforeclosure list data. This is the 'trough where everyone goes to feed' and create their list including title companies, pre foreclosure listings data services or you the real estate investor.

The advantage to going to the court house is you can get the information sooner since there is no lag time waiting for the new filings to get posted to the internet. The disadvantage is that you have to go to the court house. In a smaller community, this is relatively easy. In a city like Seattle, it's a pain.

It's probably a good idea to go to the recorder's often in the beginning to learn the foreclosure process in your county, chain of title and how to find pre foreclosures information.

Paid Alternatives

Alternatives include hiring a researcher (someone who goes to the courthouse for you) to generate your own pre foreclosure listings. This may in fact be the best way to go if you can find and/or train someone to get the info you want. It will cost more, but you will get it sooner than the competition and you can define and refine your own cirteria for your preforeclosure lists.

You can also subscribe to an online service. There can be a good deal of difference in quality and price of data services. Don't get locked into an annual agreement until you evaluate the data first - say for three months.

Although there are several alternatives to investing in foreclosures as a business, pre foreclosures is one of the most lucrative and productive use of your time as an investor and properly generated pre foreclosure listings are a key ingredient.