Pre foreclosures are properties that are in the last stage just before they are about to be taken back by the bank. In other words, this means that the owner still owns and controls the property, but if they don't do anything to get the mortgage caught up the bank is going to repossess the home.

There are many benefits to buying pre foreclosures, but most people totally miss out on these homes is because they are clueless about what they are, or how to go about finding them. That's wonderful news for a bargain hunter like you!

After all, the top advantage of pre foreclosures is the favorable pricing that goes along with them. Since the owner will be highly motivated to sell the property before the bank grabs it, they will be hungry for any offers that come their way. What could this mean for you? Well, it's not out of the realm of possibility to find pre foreclosures that are up to a whopping 50% below market value.

In addition to the sweet discount that you may get on pre foreclosures, you will also be able to negotiate directly with the property owner. Obviously, this is to your advantage because you, the buyer, will be in the driver's seat during a pre foreclosure deal. If the homeowner rejects your offer and fails to sell the property, they will end up losing everything. But by selling the home, they at least know that they can at least end up making a little bit of money back.

Finding pre foreclosures can be done using the same techniques for locating homes that that bank already owns. You can find them in the newspaper, online, or by calling the bank directly on the phone. The decision is up to you, and you can base it on what seems to be most effective.

Now, here's the real inside scoop. Generally, you will not have as much competition when buying pre foreclosures as you would when searching for already foreclosed properties. So, the key to getting a bargain basement price is to be just a bit more proactive than the competition.

With the cooling real estate market, buying pre foreclosures can be very lucrative. So, if you are looking for an investment or a new home for yourself, then do yourself a huge favor and check out these properties.