"Caveat Emptor" or "Let the Buyer Beware" has been a saying that's especially good advice when a homeowner is experiencing foreclosure. It's no surprise that many distressed homeowners undergoing foreclosure are often approached by less than ethical business people (lenders, financial advisors and/or realtors) that are more interested in their own financial gain than "helping" the homeowner to get out of foreclosure or exploring workable options.

There are plenty of horror stories in the media regarding such unethical and even criminal behavior. However, that does not mean that all real estate related business people are unscrupulous. There are responsible, business people who want to keep it that way, and who have legitimate solutions for the homeowner to pursue if he or she is willing. The catch is being able to sort between these parties.

For many homeowners, they are often confused and curious as to how their foreclosure status became publicly available in the first place. What they do not realize is that most real estate transactions are a matter of public record and attainable at the county courthouse. While obtaining this information used to be a matter of lengthy trips to the courthouse and handwritten notes, with the advent of computerized databases and the internet more of this data is readily available or accessible online.

The following is a short list of some of the people a homeowner might be contacted by and their reasons for doing so.

?Interested private parties looking to buy their own home at significantly discounted rates.

?Individual Investors who wish to achieve the best buy at below market prices in order to increase their profits.

?Real estate agents interested in reaching the homeowner in order to be the first to list and sell a homeowners home.

?Consumer credit counseling agencies looking for new customers.

?Attorneys who assist the homeowner in making the best possible decisions both during and after the foreclosure process (i.e. foreclosure negotiation, filing bankruptcy and/or the protection of personal assets).

Depending on the homeowner's individual financial situation (and the solution they have desired to pursue) a homeowner may choose to work with one or a few of the above if being able to stay in their home is not an option.

When a homeowner is able to understand by whom they are being approached and the reasons why they are being contacted, they will be able to sort in a much more effective manner between "the good, the bad and the ugly".