In the past 6 weeks we have been getting a lot of phone calls and e mails from people interested in buying 'distressed' property in Brevard County Florida. There is no question about it, currently in Brevard we have some exceptional deals on properties available for sale.
One woman last week asked me to help her find a $15,000 home. She indicated that she had heard that the banks were giving homes away. I asked what area she was looking in and what she was looking for in a home. I explained to her that there were many great deals available, but a $15,000 home was usually gutted and/or uninhabitable, if it existed at all. 
She told me that she saw homes that were going to be auctioned off. I explained that yes, often times people get great deals on these properties, but if they were being sold on the steps of the courthouse, they are not always being sold with clear title. They could be buying a home with encumbrances or liens remaining on the properties, thus they could become responsible for those liens.
It is crucial in this market, that people do their homework first. These deals are not always what they may seem. We seem to be seeing the crooks coming out of the woodwork again, trying to sell books and tapes teaching people to 'get rich quick' off of other people's misfortunes.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to buyers picking up great deals on foreclosures and short sale properties. I think there are some great buying opportunities today.
Just be careful.
And, be sure to enlist the experience of a knowledgable realtor that can help you steer clear of these "deals that just seem to be too good to be true." Because, if they seem too good to be true, they usually are.
This article is authored by
Sandy Shores Realtor, Melbourne FL Real Estate
Brevard County Real Estate & Investing
Palm Bay Florida Real Estate News
LOL. You mean they don't have free houses in FLA yet? Maybe she needs a press conference...
Hey Sandy, WE have to combat the I just saw it on TV syndrome. I ask, the evening news or HGTV...
Hi Sandy, Excellent post and good reminder of an old addage! Sandy, If you do see anyone giving houses away in Florida, I'll take 2 please.
Great advice, Sandy. My husband is a sucker for those "Buy a house for $300" infomercials on TV. I have to wrestle the remote away from him so we don't have to sit through the whole bloody thing!
Sandy, I'm glad you posted this information.
Sandy,
There is some one doing infomercials on foreclosures and stating you can buy them for next to nothing. I have a similar scenario here with a potential client.
Let's buy a home on Ebay... those come with problems no one ever thought about. Cheap but really not so much,
Ann Hayden in stormy Wildwood, Missouri
Sandy - Have you read Elizabeth Weintraub's recent blog piece? She also addresses some of the scenarios that are currently being played out. I think that we occassionally see that underpriced house on the market, but instinctively we know it will never sell for so little. Personally, I think it's used as a "come-on" tactic, to incite a bidding war!
http://activerain.com/blogsview/954514/Would-You-Buy-a-Land-Park-or-Curtis-Park-Short-Sale-at-75-a-Square-Foot
Heath, I think that again we are seeing that there is alot of bad info out there.
Hi Paul, People are hearing this erroneous info somewhere. You're probably right - late night TV again.
Hey Miss Mary, I will call you as soon as the word is out.
Hi Heather, I think there are many people that are suckers for this kind of thing. If there weren't they wouldn't bother running them.
Hi Tony, I think sometimes we must remind people of what is really going on.
Hi Ann, So you are seeing it there too? Not good.
Hey Sandy: Everybody want "a deal" these days. And, as we know, there's a sucker born every minute. I wish people would stop and think for five minutes and realize that there's a good reason when property is offered at unbelieveable prices. Thanks for a great post.
Hi Tom, You are so right. There usually is a reason that a property is offered at an unbelievable price.