Traditionally, the hunt for foreclosures would seem like a worthwhile pursuit for anyone looking to make a buck in a dreary real estate market. However, it is important to note that not all foreclosures are created equally.

Going back a few years with the rush of frenzied buyers who were getting into properties with little or no many down and many were buying with an option arm mortgage. You remember - those low 1% mortgages that sounded to good to be true. I can remember being in a sales meeting in one of our offices and asking if someone could tell me why anyone would take out this mortgage? The answer came quickly, to keep the payments low and that by the time the rate increased, the market would have gone up enough to cover the principal add on with enough room left over to cover closing costs return a good profit. In order to break even a 25% increase in sales price had to occur - anything less was a loss and anything more was a gain.

Those mortgages were a fantastic party until the rate adjusted and the negative amortization kicked in. Instead of increasing in values, the property values have stayed flat or come down. Most people who tried to refinance found that getting into another option arm was their only option. Faced with owing more than the property was worth, these foreclosures started to appear on the market. Now, tack on the cost to foreclose and you tell me - how good a deal is this?

A foreclosure deal is only as good as the price. No one should pay more for a foreclosure than for any other property - it's counter intuitive - but it is happening. Forrest Gump would call this "Stupid is as Stupid does". I would too.

Want to make a real bargain buy in a down market? read more....