Today is foreclosure notice day in the area that I cover.  The first thing I did this morning was to go to the online source of the " legal organ" that publishes the foreclosure legal notices.  This source is the online version of a local newspaper.  Remember, they are required to publish the list four weeks in a row before the auction date.  I put in the sites search, the name of the town I wanted to see.  Then I printed the list for that town.  Next I printed a postcard from my publishing program.  I use a pre designed front, with a simple message on the back, with my name and phone number.  Then I handwrite the name and address from the legal notice, and put a "P" next to the notice to indicate that I have sent a postcard.

     On my way to go knock on the doors of those in the legal notices, I will first stop by the post office to mail the post cards.  During the day, most people will not be home, so I will leave my business card.  If the door is answered, I tell them my name, and I was wondering if their home was for sale.  Depending on the response, I may be invited in to talk with the homeowner, or they will say they have it all taken care of, or they are not interested in talking.  No matter what the response, I give them a copy of my article, Foreclosure Help
which is as a post in Real Estate Investor Girl in the archives.  I will write more on this month's foreclosures in another post.

     Some people think that a real estate investor working the foreclosures is wrong because they are profiting on someone else's misfortune.  I cannot answer for all investor's but I strive to help them to know the alternatives that they have, and see if any of the alternatives are something that will work for them. (See link above.)

     If something does work out that they can keep their home, I am glad for them.  If the only alternative is to sell the home to stop the foreclosure, I try to work that out for them.  I am helping the homeowner, not taking advantage of, because I look at all possible alternatives to solve the problem.  It is good ethics, and good business.  If you help someone today, they will remember, and tell others.  The alternative, is for them to ignore the notices, and allow the home to go to the auction, and have the foreclosure on their record.  The home is lost anyway, and with long lasting negative consequences of the foreclosure record.  Some people I can't help.  Some wait too long to get the money, and paperwork through the system.  Sometimes investors get a bad rap because of the actions of a few.  If someone makes a negative comment about you contacting people in foreclosure, refer them to this blog to read the posts on foreclosure.