Foreclosures

Buying a foreclosure? Get a move on. Foreclosure activity fell to a 49-month low last month, and figures to be even lower through 2012. See where foreclosures are occurring, and where they're not.

The number of foreclosed homes for sale is dwindling, yet buyer demand for them surges. Remember that highly-publicized, 25% discount for buying a bank-owned home? It's about to go away. If you're looking at foreclosures, here's where to find them.

With each passing month, there are fewer and fewer foreclosures nationwide. Foreclosures are down on a year-to-year basis for the 12th straight month.

Default notices made their biggest one-month jump since August 2007 last month, on the way to a 9-month high. This may foreshadow a large number of bank repossessions in the months ahead.

In some states, more than half of home sales are for homes in foreclosure. Where does your state rank?

Foreclosure filings nationwide fell 35 percent in July 2011, a statistic that hints at the ongoing housing recovery. So, with less REO, where will you find the best "deals"?

According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, the number of foreclosure filings dropped 29 percent nationwide on an annual basis in June.

National Association of REALTORS® says foreclosures sell at a steep, 20 percent discount relative to non-distressed homes. There's bargains to be had -- you just need to know where to find them.

If you're shopping for bank-owned homes, supplies may be limited. Foreclosure filings are down 35% since last year. That's a big number. See how your state stacks up.

There's good foreclosure buys out there, but it's getting harder to find them as bank REO slips. The trick is to search the databases that the other buyers aren't.