How to Profit from Foreclosure in Real Estate Markets

A suburban house with a foreclosure sign in the front yard on a quiet street with trees and neighboring houses.

Foreclosure occurs when a lender seizes a property from a homeowner who has failed to make mortgage payments, typically after several months of delinquency. Lenders recover losses by selling the property, often at public auction or through real estate agents. Foreclosure filings have surged 17% nationwide in the third quarter of 2025, with 101,513 US…

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Your Guide to Financing a Foreclosure Purchase

A person reviewing financial documents and foreclosure listings on a laptop at a desk with a model house and calculator.

Buying a foreclosed home can offer significant savings, but securing financing requires preparation and a clear understanding of your options. If a foreclosed property is in decent condition and you have a strong credit history, financing can work like a traditional home purchase. The key is to identify which loan products best suit foreclosure purchases…

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Real Estate Equity: Key Concepts, Investment Methods & Value

A real estate agent shaking hands with a couple in front of their new house in a suburban neighborhood.

Real estate equity represents the portion of a property you actually own after subtracting any outstanding mortgage debt from its current market value. Real estate equity is calculated as the difference between your property’s market value and your outstanding mortgage balance, representing your true ownership stake in the property. This financial concept forms the foundation…

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A Beginner’s Guide to REO Properties Investing

A person reviewing property documents and financial charts in an office with a laptop, tablet, and a small house model on the desk.

Real Estate Owned (REO) properties are bank-owned properties that failed to sell at foreclosure auctions, creating unique investment opportunities for buyers seeking discounted assets. Lenders often offer these properties at significant discounts to quickly convert non-performing assets into cash. REO properties can offer substantial profit margins because they are frequently priced below market value, giving…

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Is The Retail Real Estate Recovery Here to Stay?

A busy shopping center with people walking and storefronts open, showing signs of retail commercial real estate recovery.

The retail commercial real estate sector shows a selective recovery in 2025, with transaction volumes down 14.2% year-over-year despite strong pricing momentum. Retail property prices have surged 18.5% annually, reaching $141 per square foot, indicating that while fewer properties are trading, investor confidence in quality retail assets is returning. This divergence between volume and pricing…

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How to Qualify for VA Mortgages

A smiling military veteran couple standing in front of their new suburban home with a lawn and porch on a sunny day.

VA mortgages offer qualifying veterans, service members, and surviving spouses a path to homeownership with significant financial advantages. These government-backed loans remove many traditional barriers that prevent military families from purchasing homes. VA home loans require no down payment and don’t require private mortgage insurance, making homeownership more accessible and affordable for those who served.…

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Why an Estoppel Certificate in Real Estate Matters

A female loan officer in her office holding and reviewing a real estate estoppel certificate document on a desk with a laptop and office items.

An estoppel certificate is a legally binding document that confirms the current terms and status of a lease agreement between a tenant and landlord. This document plays a critical role in commercial real estate transactions, providing essential verification for buyers, lenders, and other parties who need accurate information about existing lease arrangements. The certificate prevents…

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Understanding CRE Conduit Spreads

Two CRE practitioners discussing conduit spreads in commercial real estate financing.

Commercial real estate conduit spread represents the difference between the yield on commercial mortgage-backed securities and a benchmark rate, typically Treasury bonds. This spread serves as a critical indicator of investor confidence and risk appetite in the commercial real estate financing market. Understanding these spreads helps investors and lenders gauge market conditions and pricing for…

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Real Estate Escrow: A Step-by-Step Guide

Business professionals sitting around a conference table reviewing real estate documents and exchanging a pen during a meeting.

Real estate escrow is a straightforward process that protects both buyers and sellers during property transactions. Escrow is a financial arrangement where a neutral third party holds funds or assets on behalf of two parties involved in a real estate deal until all conditions are met. When you buy or sell a home, an escrow…

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A Guide to Understanding CRE Loan Spreads

Close-up of a person analyzing financial charts and graphs on a laptop in an office setting.

Commercial real estate loan spreads represent the difference between the interest rate charged on CRE loans and a benchmark rate, typically Treasury securities or LIBOR. These spreads serve as a critical pricing mechanism that reflects perceived risk, market conditions, and lender competition in commercial real estate financing. CRE loan spreads have widened significantly in recent…

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The Ins and Outs of Earnest Money in Real Estate

A real estate agent and client shaking hands over a table with a contract, house keys, and cash.

When making an offer on a property, buyers submit earnest money to show serious intent to purchase, usually ranging from 1% to 5% of the purchase price. Earnest money is a deposit that signals commitment to a transaction and provides financial assurance to sellers. This good faith deposit in real estate transactions demonstrates that buyers…

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