If you have arrived at a decision to buy foreclosure homes your first task is to visit the bank. You need to determine your capacity to purchase a distressed property and the way to do this is to apply for a home loan. There are certain requirements for you to be pre-qualified for a housing loan. Any bank representative can show you the way. You need to pre-qualify to get a better idea on the kind of property you can afford to buy. A good mortgage spread is one where you only pay up to a third of your monthly income.

After you have determined your purchasing capacity you can move on to your search for a property. A realtor can help you in buying foreclosure homes but there are other means as well of seeking out these affordable properties. You can start your search online and educate yourself on the entire foreclosure process along the way. Other sources may include the classified ads section of your newspaper or the foreclosure filings in the county courthouse. The simplest search you can conduct online is by zip code, simply key in a code and you may be able to see the foreclosures for sale in the area.

Last Few Stops
When you seek financing from a bank or a lending institution make sure you declare that you plan to purchase a foreclosed property. There are some loans that cannot be applied to foreclosures. 

Before buying foreclosure homes there are two vital tasks you need to accomplish first and these are the title search and the home inspection. You may consult a lawyer who is well versed in real estate laws to conduct your title search and uncover hidden taxes still in effect on the property in there are any. There are certified home inspectors who can inspect the property and give you a better picture on the cost of repairs.