With the housing slump, followed by the recent subprime market meltdown leaving a flood of foreclosures in its wake, lenders, brokers and agents have tried to rebound with real estate-owned (REO) properties. But breaking into the distressed property or REO market is difficult unless you know the ropes - and the competition for foreclosures, today, is fierce. Just ask Steele V. Propp, foreclosure specialist/loss mitigation consultant, for the Bank Owned Property Division of the Minneapolis-based Schatz Group, GMAC Real Estate. Liquid mercury for sale mexico

"Last year, the Minneapolis-St. Paul area had an inventory of 600 foreclosed homes at any given time, and this year we will easily reach 900 homes," Propp said.

"The days of only inner city broken down properties are over," he said. "Some foreclosures are in gated and golf course communities. Anyone can have financial problems and a lot of people live close to the edge."

"Being an REO agent seems to be the latest fad in real estate," said Propp, a 26-year industry veteran who knows the ropes. "Everyone and their Dad have been asking about it.

"And recently a number of the guru real estate agent trainers out there have jumped on the bandwagon with so-called wonderful course material for becoming a foreclosure agent specialist," he said. "I get e-mails everyday from these gurus who hawk their books and seminars about making a fortune in foreclosures.

"I am a bit leery of these 'specialists' since most seem more about you paying them money," he added.

Break in with BPOs

"For the most part, the best way to get noticed is to offer to do the grunt work of the foreclosure industry -- performing Broker Price Opinions or BPOs," Propp said. "Agents who do this on a regular basis tend to get noticed."

Harry C. Richardson, an independent broker and Realtor based in Albuquerque, said, "There is no substitute for experience."

But prior to six years ago, Richardson had little experience in the REO market.

Although New Mexico has not experienced the housing market lows and highs of the Florida, California, Michigan and Ohio markets, Richardson read the signs and saw a bright future in the REO/foreclosure business.

To get a foot in the door, Richardson googled asset management companies and e-mailed BPO hiring managers for a chance. After six months of performing BPOs, he struck out on his own.

"It is important to accurately place a value on the asset (property) because the person (or bank) holding the REO is relying on you," Richardson told Real Law Central.

Just like anything else, once you build a good reputation, word gets around.