short sale, best way to buy a short sale homeIf you are thinking that this could be a great time to buy a home, either as a winter or summer home, you could be thinking right! There are lots of homes on the market that are either short sale properties or home foreclosures in 55+ communities in the sunbelt states that could be excellent long term investments for you. The states of Florida, Arizona, California, and Nevada have been hard hit by the real estate recession, and there are thousands and thousands of nice properties for you to choose from, whether you want to buy in a 55+ community or not.

Foreclosures and short sales are not the fastest real estate transaction out there, since the banks require more paperwork to sell these homes. But they are great values, and living in the sunny South in the winter is so nice, compared to living in the frozen north. The best way to buy a short sale home in one of these states via long distance is to contact a local Realtor who has listings, and can tell you which of the homes is the best value, is in the best shape, and you have the best chance at getting the winning bid.