Foreclosure properties in California are always of keen interest to real estate investors. Whether your goal is to find the right home at the right price or to diversify your portfolio by investing in California foreclosures, there are lists of property foreclosures ready and waiting for you.
It can be difficult, though, to find a legitimate list of California foreclosures. Many are out-of-date, overpriced and incomplete. While there is not a single, complete list of California homes in foreclosure, there are many resources available that can help you find that perfect California foreclosure property.
When finding California foreclosed property listings, among the key points to consider in your search are:
- The timeliness of the list of bank-owned foreclosures in California.
- The source of the list at which you’re looking.
- The cost of the list of property foreclosures in California.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Go for lists of California foreclosures that are as up-to-date as possible
Many lists of foreclosure properties in California are extremely out-of-date. This is especially true for print listings. Foreclosure listings move at the speed of light because of their bargain basement pricing. Therefore, it's important to always choose a resource that will provide you with up-to-the-minute bank-owned foreclosures in California
I recommend: RealtyStore.com puts every listing on its site through a 10-point quality check before it goes online. And its
$1 week-long trial offer really lets you look at all kinds of California foreclosed property listings for very little money.
Choose lists of foreclosed properties in California from reputable sources
We've all seen the late-night infomercials with a crazy-looking, crazy-acting guy trying to sell lists of foreclosed properties. But really, is this the type of person from whom you should learn about California foreclosure listings? Instead, look for legitimate companies with a strong reputation for providing quality foreclosures.
I recommend: HUDforeclosed.com has the largest inventory of government foreclosure listings in California available. With the number of HUD-backed loans that end up in foreclosure, these foreclosure properties in California are courtesy of the most reputable source there is, Uncle Sam.
Don't spend a fortune for California foreclosure listings
With the myriad lists of California homes in foreclosure, it would be easy to think that you need to spend a good chunk of change in order to reap the best deals. This isn't necessarily so, though. Instead, focus on finding lists that fit the above criteria but don't cost an arm and a leg.
I recommend: ForeclosureFreeSearch.com offers a free seven-day trial period. Another site offering a seven-day trial membership is
ForeclosureDeals.com. This trial costs only a few dollars, so again a great price for the opportunity to see what the site offers.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- If a deal looks too good to be true, it just might be. Remember that most California foreclosures can be had for about 40 to 70% of fair market value. If you're looking at something even cheaper than that, look closely to find out exactly why it is so inexpensive.
- Never buy foreclosed properties in California sight-unseen. Some companies offer this "service," but you're setting yourself up for a fall. Foreclosed properties can be highly damaged by their former owners at move-out, and you need to know exactly what you're going to have to put in to your California foreclosure property before you buy.
The official source of California Foreclosure Listings is
the California Foreclosure Listings page at Business.com