how to get started in pre-forclosures
I have been reading quite a few books on pre forclosures and I am trying to get started, but I dont know what exact steps to take. I am recently attemping to get pre approved with a mortgage. After I get approved, then what? Do I head for the county clerks office to see who is about to default? 
TJM:
Nice to meet you! Welcome to the TCI Family.
Try using the SEARCH feature (above right) and insert 'pre-Foreclosure' also use this as your guide to search and identify previous ARTICLES.
I've written an eBook called 'the Complete PFL & FSBO Mktg Bible' and also many ARTICLES/POSTs on the subject.
Search: Derrick Ali, or Bill Twyford, Dwan Brent-Twyford, and/or John Michael.
Hope this helps!
DERRICK ALI
[addsig]
TJM
I THINK BEFORE YOU GO TO THE COURTHOUSE BE SURE YOU HAVE DONE WHAT I FEEL IS THE MONEY PART OF THE BUSINESS. THIS IS TO GET OUT AND LEARN ALL YOU CAN ABOUT PROPERTIES IN THE AREAS YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVEST IN. UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT A PROP. IS REALLY WORTH YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A GOOD DEAL. DRIVE THE STREETS TAKE NOTES DO COMPS, IT AIN'T PRETTY BUT ITS WHAT WILL MAKE YOU MONEY. I THINK BOOKS ARE THE WAY TO START ALSO , THEY WILL HELP YOU TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IN ALL THE GREAT INFO THAT IS ON THIS WONDERFUL SITE. SO LEARN ASK QUESTIONS THEN PURCHASE. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND TO ALL OF US JERRY
One of the best methods of determining
current market value is having the local
title company give you a report of all
sales in the last 12 months.
I have them restrict the list of homes
sold to same number of beds and baths,
approx sq. footage and located within
1 mile of your subject property.
I then compute the average price
per sq. ft of the sales price and multiply
that by the # of sq. ft of 'my house'.
I have found this to be a conservative
measure of what you will be able to
re-sell the house for.
I would love to hear others thoughts
on placing value.
Thank you all for welcoming me and giving me your advice so soon. FINANCMAN, when you say comps, do you mean a comparative analysis on the area I am investing in? If so, I did do this in quite a few areas already just to gain a little bit of knowledge of my investment areas. However, the analysis I did recieve were not that specific. Once I do start to look into specific houses I will do some major research. Thank you very much for your advice, if you have any more suggestions or tips, please let me know.