45% of potential homebuyers have interest in specifically buying an REO home – because they know they can get an amazing deal.

New foreclosures, however, are slowing down – but only because the banks and asset managers are too busy trying to cope with the old foreclosures.

And, if a new double-dip recession hits later this year, as many economists are predicting, that will mean a new surge of REO homes on the market.

If, 6 or 7 years ago, we happened to be in the middle of a giant housing bubble, it’s pretty clear that bubble has transformed into a huge pit; a huge pit that’s going to be hard to climb out of – with REO agents and brokers will be leading the effort.

And ASREOS (the American Society of REO Specialists), the innovative and exciting trade organization I began a few years ago, is the perfect place for REO newbies and pros to network, swap secrets, and help each other to gain an incredible competitive edge.

Let’s face it – everyone sees the opportunity in selling REO homes. Many, many people want to know how to become an REO agent and how to get REO listings. And there are a lot of so-called “experts” out there training folks who don’t know what they’re doing.

Look, I was in the REO business back in 2000 and worked my way up the chain to become a top REO agent – long before any of this foreclosure madness was even on the horizon. I know the market in and out. That’s why I started ASREOS – to provide informed and effective resources to both beginning and veteran REO agents.

There’s enough REO action out there for everyone and there will be for some time. But for those who take the time to educate themselves about the unique aspects of REO transactions, as well as get the most up-to-date information on an ever-changing marketplace, there will be a higher success rate and a bigger piece of the pie.

That’s why I encourage everyone who is a member of ASREOS to take full advantage of what we have to offer. And if you’re not a member, I invite you to take a look at our website at www.ASREOS.com for more about who we are and what we do.

Numbers and facts don’t lie. And right now, they both agree – REO homes are going to be big business for years to come.

There’s no question that most real estate professionals are desperate for a bounce in both home prices and buying activity. There’s also no question that, with the economy still bogged down by unemployment and tight credit, home loan delinquencies will continue to rise and the shadow inventory of REO homes will continue to dominate the real estate landscape.

As I write in my new article, “REO Listings: New Recession to Spur More REO Properties?”, there really isn’t much of a glimmer of good news anywhere, except in the REO marketplace – where the numbers are more unbelievable than ever. It’s gotten to the point where, as I write in the article, Freddie Mac is hiring REO Agents for the first time in its history!

Freddie’s a little late to the party, to be honest. Many real estate firms are opening REO divisions and searching for qualified REO agents and brokers so they can continue to do business. Every real estate pro knows that REO homes are going to be big business for years to come.

And, again, that’s why I began ASREOS (the American Society of REO Specialists) a few years ago. By offering both veteran and newbie REO professionals top-of-the-line resources from the best REO agents in the business, they get an immediate edge in maximizing the opportunities of the current red hot REO business climate.

As a matter of fact, I have posted on the members-only section of www.ASREOS.com a how-to article on how to get listings from Freddie Mac.

So please, if you are a member, make sure you’re using all the advantages ASREOS is offering you. If you’re not a member and you’re serious about a career in REO sales, consider joining. This is the time to make the move.

Foreclosures that were being postponed due to waiting on the new President’s plans for dealing with delinquent mortgages are now being processed – but there’s a huge backlog to deal with.

On top of that, there’s a whole new wave of foreclosures about to hit the mortgage industry. And these don’t involve the risky subprime mortgages you’ve heard so much about. These are more mainstream mortgages. The problem now for many American families is, with all the downsizing, bankruptcies and layoffs, unemployment has nearly doubled. Not only that, but many workers have lost overtime pay and been reduced from fulltime to part-time work by the businesses they work for.

And that’s resulting in many more families unable to keep up with their home payments that were on fairly economic ground before. Economy.com estimates that 60% of mortgage defaults this year will be a result of joblessness.

That means more REO listings on the market. And the good news there is that more and more home buyers are interested in buying REO homes.

Values have gone low enough where first time home buyers are now seeing REO properties as affordable and a good investment, as I write about in my article, “REO LISTINGS: MORE PROPERTIES GENERATING MORE SALES.” As I also indicate in that article, the problem is that these new buyers are worried about the whole process of buying REO homes – mostly the hidden costs that might be involved in buying foreclosures.

I believe REO Sellers, brokers and agents all need to work together to educate the public about the REO buying process so that they won’t have these doubts about whether REO purchases are safe. I encourage all the ASREOS members to work towards this end and for everyone in the REO business to be as professional as possible.

A lot of this trepidation comes from the actual physical condition of REO homes. That’s why we can’t ignore the importance of completing proper Property Preservation services on these houses to make sure the buyer is happy with the look of the property. It’s another reason why we started REO RESQ™, the first nationwide franchise of Property Preservation professionals. By training our franchisees in the specifics of securing, repairing and maintaining REO homes, we ensure that standards are kept and the homes are “market-ready.” Please feel free to check out our new website at www.REORESQ.com for more on our services.

And don’t forget to participate in our exclusive members-only forum on www.ASREOS.com, as well as taking advantage of all our other great REO resources. This REO boom will be with us for a few years, so let’s make the most of it. By doing our best to sell REO properties, we help stabilize the housing market in general and aid in America’s economic recovery.

If you follow the money in the real estate market for the next few years, it’s obvious that REO homes are going to continue to be seen as a huge value and a hot seller. It was gratifying to see it acknowledged in “Financial Planning” magazine, a 40 year-old mainstay financial advising resource, in their article, “REO de Dinero” (you can read the 3 page article at http://tinyurl.com/2gyt6j7).

It’s pretty much a no-brainer – you can save up to a third off the price on REO properties, sales close quickly because the REO banks want to unload them off their books as soon as possible and the only thing a buyer really has to be concerned about is making sure that any house damage is minimal.

All real estate analysts are saying the incredible inventory of REO homes – which hit another record-setting peak in March – is going to mean that the REO market is going to be huge for years to come.

Think about it – someone buying a house in this market? They’re going to go for the best deal. And the best deal is an REO home. Which is why, these days, many of the REO properties provoke bidding wars as soon as they go on sale.

A few years ago, when I began ASREOS – the American Society of REO Specialists – I knew that the REO market was set to mushroom. But even I never dreamed that it would take off to this extent. I guess I’m just psychic enough, which is fine with me. You know too much, you get in trouble!

I do know this much, however – if you have any desire to make money in real estate in the coming months and years, you should check out our organization at www.ASREOS.com. We offer resources both for beginners on how to become an REO agent and how to get REO listings – and we also offer resources for the experienced REO pro who wants to keep up with the latest REO news and selling methods.

Having access to our top secret REO sellers list, our members-only forum, advice from top REO agents and your own online profile at ASREOS.com, as well as everything else we have to offer, immediately puts you many steps ahead of the average REO agent or broker.

Let us help you “follow the money” – we’re sure you’ll like the final destination!

This is going to speed up the time that REO homes will reach the market – and streamline the process. Which means there will be another surge in REO listings available to REO professionals – who will be desperately needed?

HousingWire.com says we will need all the REO agent and broker expertise we can get in order to properly sell and liquidate the massive amount of REO properties that will continue to come through the pipeline – and to help along the real estate recovery everyone has been praying for.

March of 2010 is expected to be another record-setting month for foreclosures. REO sales are accounting for almost a third of all home sales in recent months. And the big banks are expecting their foreclosures to balloon once again at the end of 2010, with some reports estimating REO portfolios will double, triple or even be six times as large by December.

Obviously, if the process had not been streamlined, we would have been staring down a lot of bureaucratic gridlock trying to get all these REO listings taken care of. Thankfully, some positive action was taken.

This is an incredibly opportune time for all of us REO agents, brokers and other professionals. At our website at www.ASREOS.com, we are doing everything in our power to keep our members up-to-date on the latest in REO news, as well as help those who want to become an REO agent.

The numbers, as well as the sales, of REO properties are going to hit the roof in the next few months. So let’s all fasten our seat belts and enjoy the ride! And don’t forget to stop by www.ASREOS.com and utilize the great REO resources we have for you there.

You can’t stop a tsunami. A giant wave that’s as tall as a ten story building? Good luck.

Another thing none of us can stop? The overwhelming number of REO properties that will continue to be heading our way.

In my new article, “The Pig in the Python,” I lay out the latest facts and figures about foreclosures and the shadow inventory of REO homes that’s finally making its way through the real estate pipeline.

Government programs and loan modification attempts have been mostly forestalling the inevitable – and time has run out. The first quarter of 2010 contained a record number of foreclosures and experts expect the end of 2010 to boost those figures even higher.

I quoted real estate consultant Ivy Zelman in the article about the REO shadow inventory being the “pig in the python” that no one wants to really deal with. Zelman also made a number of other pertinent points – mainly that, by repeatedly trying to keep homeowners in houses they can no longer afford, they’re pushing the limits of the FHA for low-income borrowers, touting historically positive affordability.

Zelman also asked, “What exactly is so wrong with renting?”

For many homeowners struggling to keep up with mortgages with ever-growing payments, they’re fighting a battle they can’t win – when they might be better off abandoning ship, renting and saving money for another home down the line. They’re being financially oppressed by mortgages that keep them with nothing in their bank accounts.

With distressed sales (REO homes and short sales) accounting for half of all home sales in March, it’s clear that REO properties could sell fast and furious if they were allowed to make it to market. Why not actually help these homeowners and the real estate market to deal with reality rather than perpetuating a situation that helps no one?

Let’s stop putting time, money and effort into trying to stop an avalanche. Instead, let’s just focus on cleaning up after it’s done.

Please remember to stop by www.ASREOS.com for more information on how to get REO listings if you’re already an REO agent or broker, and how to become an REO agent if you want to enter this lucrative field.

With the REO business booming, a lot of newbies are trying to break into a surefire business in tough times. That’s where my trade organization, ASREOS (the American Society of REO Specialists) gives its members an unbeatable professional advantage.

Between the advice our REO experts give out, as well as the things you can learn from other REO pros on our members-only forum, there’s a wealth of inside information you have access to that can give you an instant leg up on the competition. And I hope you’re making full use of all that knowledge.

For instance, if you saw my new article, “Button Down Your BPO’s”, you’ll see that I gave out a simple formula for adjusting the BPO price in regards to sold and active comparables in the gross living area. This is just one of the “secret” tricks and techniques I’ve picked up over the years as a very successful REO agent and expert.

And it’s just a small, small part of what membership in ASREOS brings you. There’s also our top secret list of REO sellers, your own professional online profile, searchable by zip code, and other important resources.

If you want to make money in the REO business, this is the time to maximize all your advantages to stand out from the herd. If you’re already a member, make sure to use everything we have to offer. If you’re not already a member, you’re welcome to join and seek out the REO training you’ll need to succeed, if you don’t have a lot of experience.

I invite you to find out more about us and what we do at www.ASREOS.com.

As I saw this “perfect storm” of foreclosures coming, I knew it was the right moment to begin ASREOS (The American Society of REO Specialists) a little over a year ago. Now everyone wants to know how to get REO listings and obtain the inside knowledge necessary to deal with REO properties.

ASREOS was set up to do just that – with our valuable interviews with top REO agents, our members-only forum where REO pros can swap enlightening tips, the online profiles we provide our members and, of course, the top-secret REO Sellers list that only our folks get access to.

For any of you thinking this REO boom was just a momentary fluctuation, think again. Foreclosure rates and mortgage default numbers continue to escalate, because of the horrible jobs picture – and that picture isn’t expected to brighten any time soon.

It’s unfortunate to see all these homeowners in trouble – but, as I always say, the best thing, when foreclosure happens, is to get these REO homes on the market and sold ASAP. It helps the economy, it helps the neighborhoods where these homes sit vacant often for months and it helps the real estate market to stabilize.

When some experts estimate the “shadow inventory” of foreclosures that have yet to be officially recorded in the real estate numbers at 7 million, even I can’t believe it – but that’s just what people in the know are saying. Even I don’t predict that all of them will become REO properties – but if even half of them do, that will be more than the official number of foreclosures recorded in 2009.

The REO opportunity in 2010 will be bigger than the last two years – because these REO homes will need to be sold to help out the struggling banks and financial institutions that own them.

I hope that all of our ASREOS members had a profitable 2009 – and I wish all of you the best in 2010. For those of you considering exploring how to be an REO agent and how to get REO listings, I hope you stop by www.ASREOS.com to see all we have to offer.

Happy New Year and let’s hope 2010 is a good one for everyone in America.

While everyone is anxious to be a part of a money-making business when the economy is in such a bad state, it’s not incredibly easy to immediately be accepted as an REO pro by REO banks and asset managers.

These are big companies who need to sell these foreclosed homes, not just homeowners like you and me who want to move to a different house. That’s why it’s very, very important to conduct yourself in a way that will put them at ease and gain their trust.

Even if you’re just performing BPO’s at this stage, you need to be punctual, thorough and organized with them. If an REO bank can’t trust you with a BPO, how are they going to trust you when it comes to actually giving you REO listings?

Professionalism is something I stress with the members of my trade association, ASREOS (the National Association of REO Specialists). We also regularly feature conference calls and webinars on different aspects of the REO selling experience and I occasionally endorse programs and tools REO agents and brokers can use to give them a head start when it comes to giving them an edge over the extensive competition.

But knowledge and hi tech tools only take you so far. Again, if the REO banks and asset managers don’t view you as dependable and reliable, you won’t get those REO listings. Image is always important, no matter what your business. And that’s never truer than when you’re working with a big company.

As always, you’re welcome to come visit us at our website, www.asreos.com, to find out more about all the resources we provide to REO beginners and veterans alike.

It’s not that the loan modification programs designed by the Obama Administration aren’t working – it’s just that there’s no way they can keep up with the increasing numbers of unemployed Americans that can’t pay their mortgages. CNBC Real Estate Reporter Diana Olick makes just that point in her excellent piece, “Despite Government Intervention, Foreclosure Crisis Is Not Improving” (you can view it at http://www.cnbc.com/id/34038967?__source=RSS*blog*&par=RSS).

Just as Wall Street was hit by the financial crisis before Main Street, Wall Street is recovering before Main Street. That’s just the way the system works. The recovery will happen, and jobs will come back.

In the meantime, anyone looking for a career or a way to make money should consider training to be an REO agent or starting an REO property preservation company. Again, that’s why I began ASREOS (the American Society of REO Specialists) in 2008 – I saw this REO listings tidal wave coming and knew America would need a heck of a lot more people who knew how to work the REO business.

Instead of focusing all this energy on fighting a losing war against foreclosures, the government and the real estate industry should focus their efforts on making the REO properties process easier and more efficient.

Right now, foreclosures take forever to make it back on the market, and that costs everyone – the REO Seller, the REO agents, would-be homeowners anxious to find an REO bargain and even local municipalities, who must deal with rundown vacant properties that threaten the value and safety of neighborhoods.

Keeping the REO business on track helps keep the economy on track. Training REO agents in how to get REO listings and making it easier for them to do so puts more money in everyone’s pocket.

Let’s not fight a losing battle. Let’s all win by generating more business.

For more about how to get REO training, how to get REO listings, and how to make money selling REO homes, please visit our website at ASREOS.com.