Investing in foreclosures can be an extremely lucrative prospect for the knowledgeable buyer who knows the ins and outs of his or her market very well. While get-rich-quick books and programs flood the Internet and TV infomercials, there is no substitute for doing lots of homework when it comes to foreclosure investment. Buying homes in the pre-foreclosure phase is perhaps the most talked about foreclosure investment technique right now.

The goal of a pre-foreclosure sale is to help the current owner avoid the whole foreclosure process, which can be extremely detrimental to one's ability to get a loan in the future. This can be done by buying the home directly from an owner who is default on the mortgage before the lender takes action to foreclose on the property. Buying this way can be a financial boon for a wise investor, who can expect to purchase the property for up to 40 percent below market value.

It can be very difficult, however, to make contact with an owner in default. Any borrower who has missed enough payments to be facing foreclosure will no doubt be receiving countless letters and phone calls from the lender, and possibly other creditors as well. Additionally there may be unpaid taxes or other liens on the property which will become the responsibility of the investor once the home is purchased.

Pre-Foreclosure Investment Ethics

Any investor willing to negotiate with directly with an owner facing foreclosure should understand the ethical paradox of this particular situation. While the investor desires a low price on a home he or she can then flip for quick profit, an owner has specific financial needs to be met before making any final deals. Since foreclosure is at the very least a difficult prospect for anyone, great care should be taken to ensure a win-win situation.