Congratulations on your successful registration for this Sunday’s special training webinar called “Building Code Violations:  The Source For Zero Competition, High Profit Real Estate Deals“.

The webinar happens on Sunday night, March 21, 2010 at 8:00 PM ET.

We’re proud that we regularly provide very high-quality educational content to you on a regular basis, and the “Building Code Violations” training will certainly be no exception.  This is the best source of truly DESPERATE sellers I’ve ever seen - far outweighing the “motivation” levels of today’s foreclosure victims.

If you’ve already registered, that’s great!  You should have received a confirmation in your email by now.  If not, please go here to register right now - it’s 100% free!

We are proud to underwrite this special training event for you.  Thank you, and have a great day!

Bryan Ellis
The Bryan Ellis Real Estate Letter

According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, foreclosure filings topped 300,000 for the 12th straight month last month as 1 in every 418 U.S. homes received a foreclosure filing.

It's a small improvement from January and a just 6 percent increase over February 2009.

On a per-capita basis, foreclosure density varied by state:

• Nevada : 1 foreclosure filing per 102 homes
• Florida : 1 foreclosure filing per 163 homes
• Arizona : 1 foreclosure filing per 163 homes
• California : 1 foreclosure filing per 195 homes

Also, as in January 2010, foreclosures across the country were concentrated. 10 states beat the national Foreclosure Per Capita average; 40 states fell below. Like everything else is real estate, it seems, foreclosures are local.

For today's home buyers, foreclosures represent an interesting opportunity.

Homes bought in various stages of foreclosure are often less expensive than other, non-foreclosure homes. It's one reason why distressed home sales account for 38 percent of all resales. However, less expensive doesn't always mean less costly. A foreclosed home may be in various stages of disrepair and they're often sold as-is, as policy.

Buying new or used can be cheaper than buying broken-down.

Therefore, if you're in the market for a bank-owned home, make sure you know what you're buying before you sign a contract. Have qualified professionals review and inspect the property, as needed. Damage to pipes or the property's structure, for example, may not be so obvious on a walk-though and you'll want to know about it before you buy.

Also, foreclosed homes are federal tax credit-eligible. Buyers must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30, 2010.

According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, foreclosure filings topped 300,000 for the 12th straight month last month as 1 in every 418 U.S. homes received a foreclosure filing.

It's a small improvement from January and a just 6 percent increase over February 2009.

On a per-capita basis, foreclosure density varied by state:

• Nevada : 1 foreclosure filing per 102 homes
• Florida : 1 foreclosure filing per 163 homes
• Arizona : 1 foreclosure filing per 163 homes
• California : 1 foreclosure filing per 195 homes

Also, as in January 2010, foreclosures across the country were concentrated. 10 states beat the national Foreclosure Per Capita average; 40 states fell below. Like everything else is real estate, it seems, foreclosures are local.

For today's home buyers, foreclosures represent an interesting opportunity.

Homes bought in various stages of foreclosure are often less expensive than other, non-foreclosure homes. It's one reason why distressed home sales account for 38 percent of all resales. However, less expensive doesn't always mean less costly. A foreclosed home may be in various stages of disrepair and they're often sold as-is, as policy.

Buying new or used can be cheaper than buying broken-down.

Therefore, if you're in the market for a bank-owned home, make sure you know what you're buying before you sign a contract. Have qualified professionals review and inspect the property, as needed. Damage to pipes or the property's structure, for example, may not be so obvious on a walk-though and you'll want to know about it before you buy.

Also, foreclosed homes are federal tax credit-eligible. Buyers must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30, 2010.

It's not only the real estate markets that differ from town to town -- the Cost of Living does, too.

Insurance costs, tax bills and just plain, day-to-day living will dent a household budget differently depending on where that household is. It can be a nerve-wracking fact for families moving across state borders.

As an aid for the budget-aware, Bankrate.com keeps a Cost of Living Comparison Calculator on its website. The calculator asks 3 questions: (1) Where do you live now, (2) To where you are moving, and (3) What is your salary. It then spits out a detailed, 58-item cost comparison list between the two cities.

Some of the key costs compared include:

• Everyday groceries
• Energy bills
• Routine healthcare
• Home ownership
• Clothes
• Sporting goods

The Cost of Living Comparison Calculator is thorough, with data culled from the ACCRA. You'll be surprised at how granular the list can get. On the ACCRA website, you can buy a similar report for $5.

On the Bankrate.com site, the data is free.

It's a sensational headline -- "The Sellers' Deadly Sins" -- but the message is clear. Home sellers make mistakes that not only cost themselves thousands, but sometimes cost the sale, too.

NBC's The Today Show lays it out cleanly in this 5-minute video:

1. How to respond to an "insulting offer"
2. How to handle the first purchase offer you receive
3. What do when you can't leave your home for its Open House
4. What room in the home should be kept the neatest

But, be aware. At the video's end, there's a piece of advice that may sound extremely self-serving coming from a real estate professional. Don't let it turn you off. The video's overall message is spot-on and the advice is real-world tested.

Selling a home is a process. Make sure to do it properly.