Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you wanted to know about RealtyStore.com

How do I use RealtyStore.com?
After you register, you will be given a User ID and Password, which grants you access to our members-only website. You simply log in and use the easy-to-follow instructions to find your dream home. You will be able to:
• Search for homes in any given zip code, city, county or state.
• Compare prices against similar homes and the median house value in that area
• Review neighborhood reports and comparisons
• View real estate news and information
• Take an online training tutorial on how to purchase real-estate inexpensively and effectively
• Get a free credit report and apply for special loan and downpayment programs

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How do I contact Customer Support?
Our Customer Support Department is available to assist you Monday - Friday from 7AM - 5PM Pacific Standard Time. We can be reached by email at support@realtystore.com. Additionally, our toll-free phone number is 1-800-473-1783.

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How do I get started?
Just click here to register online! It’s that simple. You’ll become a member with full access to the listings, reports and information needed to find your dream home. Visitors that don't register (Non-members) do not get full access to the listings, contact information, sale comparisons, neighborhood reports or special member-only deals.

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How much does the RealtyStore.com service cost?
Most members register for the Trial Period which carries a nominal cost. After the Trial Period, we will charge your account a monthly membership fee of less than $40.00 per month, provided you do not cancel before your Trial Period expires. If you cancel before your Trial Period expires, there will be NO FURTHER CHARGES after the trial fee. Not only is it a low-risk offer, but compared to the amount of money you could save on buying your Dream Home, we think it's a great bargain!

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Are there any shipping and handling charges to become a member?
There are absolutely NO shipping and handling charges for online subscribers.

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How do I cancel?
• Login to the site with your User ID (your email address) and Password (your 10 digit phone number).
• Click on the "My Account" tab at the top of the page.
• Scroll down to the Member Information section and click the “Cancel” link next to Membership Status.
• Click the Cancel Membership button.
That’s it and your membership will be cancelled. You will receive a confirmation number displayed on the page. If you do not receive a confirmation number then your subscription has not been canceled. We will also follow up with an email confirmation. You can also cancel by phone, by calling us toll free at 1-800-473-1783.

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Will I get charged if I do not use the service?
Yes, you will. Your membership fees cover the costs of making the foreclosure information available to you, whether you use the service or not. Please be sure to use the service once you register, as that is the only way you'll be able to take advantage of the foreclosure buying opportunities available.

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Will I really save that much money?
Yes you can. Thousands of other people have purchased foreclosure and auction property at far below market value. United States Government studies indicate that foreclosure homes sell for an average of 22% less than "ordinary" home sales. Many were found at even greater savings. Additionally, the Journal of Real Estate Research and the University of Texas tested 2,500 foreclosure homes and found almost identical results. This independent research should guide your decision on pursuing foreclosure properties and ultimately your dream home.

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How do you help me?
Our mission is to help our members find great deals on real estate. We do this providing information and listings you won’t find at ordinary real estate sources (e.g. realtor websites). This exclusive information includes Foreclosures, REO bank-owned property, Government-owned homes, auctions, Pre-foreclosures and FSBO listings. We get this information by purchasing, aggregating and filtering data from hundreds of other sources including the government, tax assessors, county records, past transaction data, asset managers, neighborhood reports and banks. This information costs us thousands of dollars, but it's important to us that we have the highest quality data available, to help you find your dream home at bargain prices.

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How are you different than other real estate resources?
Almost every other real estate resource is in business to help real estate agents sell homes to you (the homebuyer), typically at market prices or above. Our sole purpose is to help you get the best possible deals, often at 20% - 50% below market value. We specialize in foreclosure listings and distressed properties that are practically impossible to find on your own. In comparison, ordinary real estate resources promote regular MLS listings that you can find anywhere, from newspapers to supermarket checkout lines. Additionally, we have amassed a vast library of foreclosure buying information that you will not find at ordinary real estate sources. That’s because we believe homebuyers should be well-informed and empowered to get the best possible deal.

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How many homes do you have?
We have almost half a million listings of residential real estate including single-family homes, apartments, vacant land, income property and mobile homes. But it’s as much about quality as quantity - each and every one of our listings goes through a 10-point quality check before it enters our database. That way, you can be confident you’re using current and accurate information to find the best possible deal.

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What if I’m looking to buy a home in a different area, town, state, etc?
No problem. Our nationwide database covers every US state, so you can look wherever you would like. Plus we make it easy to search with our powerful and proprietary search technology. You can search by State, County, Zip Code or just by clicking on a Map. You can even tell us exactly how many bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet and what price range you are looking for, and we’ll find the closest possible matches.

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What if I don’t know anything about real estate?
That’s OK, because we had your needs in mind when we created this program. Buying real estate, and in particular buying Foreclosure and FSBO property, is complex and can be tricky. At RealtyStore.com, we offer simple, easy-to-follow instructions on how to buy your dream home at below market value. We recommend that you start with our Foreclosure Tutorial that teaches you how to purchase real estate inexpensively and effectively. We make it fun and easy!

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What is a Foreclosure?
A Foreclosure occurs when a homeowner misses his or her payments and defaults on the mortgage. Property in foreclosure is often referred to as "distressed" because the owner is in financial distress and is behind on his or her payments. The owner’s financial distress can be caused by a variety of unfortunate circumstances. This often results in a bargain buying opportunity for a well-informed homebuyer or investor, who can end up helping the homeowner avoid serious credit problems.

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How does the Foreclosure process occur?
The foreclosure process doesn’t just happen overnight. A typical foreclosure timeline can extend over several months. Each stage of the foreclosure process offers different types of opportunities for the buyer. The three stages of the Foreclosure process are (1) Pre-Foreclosure (2) Foreclosure Sale/Auction and (3) REO or Real Estate Owned by the Bank. RealtyStore.com offers information and listings for all three phases of the Foreclosure process.

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What is a Pre-Foreclosure?
Pre-foreclosure represents the first stage in the foreclosure process. In this phase, the homeowner has missed at least one payment and is now considered delinquent on the loan. Buying a property in pre-foreclosure involves approaching the owner in default with an opportunity for the owner to escape the burdens of foreclosure. Your goal is to help the homeowner navigate through this challenging situation, relieve them of the growing mortgage debt and ultimately to avoid foreclosure. For you the buyer, pre-foreclosures offer potential discounts of 20 to 40 percent below market value, while helping out someone in distress (the owner).

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What is a Foreclosure Sale (Auction)?
The auction is the stage of the foreclosure process after the pre-foreclosure phase of the property has ended. You attend an auction (typically at the steps of the county courthouse) and bid on the home, just like any other auction. During an auction, the lender is now seeking to recapture its losses by auctioning the property in a public sale to the highest bidder. At an auction sale, buyers are typically required to pay in cash and have little time to research the property beforehand. However, an auction sale can offer some of the best bargains, often times as much as 35 to 50 percent below market value.

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What is REO Property?
REO stands for Real Estate Owned (by the Bank). REO properties are another great opportunity to purchase foreclosures. The REO stage is the process after the auction, when the lender is either the successful bidder or there are no bids at all. In either case, the bank becomes the legal property owner and the property is considered a "non-performing asset" of the bank, which is a fancy way of saying the bank doesn’t want to hold on to the property. This means a solid buying opportunity for you, the homebuyer. While buying property from the bank is the easiest way to purchase a foreclosure, the savings opportunities are typically less than buying a pre-foreclosure or auction property.

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What is a HUD Home?
HUD is a shorthand term for the US Government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD’s mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. When someone with a HUD insured mortgage couldn’t meet the payments, the lender forecloses on the home; HUD pays the lender what is owed; and HUD takes ownership of the home. Then they sell it as quickly as possible, often at significant savings because most HUD Homes are affordable for low- and moderate-income Americans. HUD Homes are sold "as-is," without warranty. That means that HUD will not pay to correct any problems. But even if a HUD Home needs fixing up (and not all of them do), it can be a real bargain! For example, HUD’s asking price on the home will reflect the fact that the buyer will have to invest money to make improvements. HUD might offer special incentives such as an allowance to upgrade the property, a moving expense allowance, or a bonus for closing the sale early. And keep in mind that on most sales, the buyer can request HUD to pay all or a portion of the financing and closing costs. Your real estate agent will have details. We encourage you to get the home professionally inspected before you make an offer so you will know what repairs you may have to make BEFORE you submit your bid.

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What is a FSBO?
FSBO is shorthand for "For Sale by Owner" and is pronounced fizzbo. It is normally used to describe a homeowner who sells his home without the services of a realtor. Across the country, a growing percentage (estimated at 14%) of homeowners are discovering how easy and economical it is to sell their home without a realtor. By selling without a realtor, homeowners save thousands of dollars on commissions and often pass some of those savings to the homebuyer to make a quick sale.

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Can I finance a purchase through RealtyStore.com?
RealtyStore.com works with a number of different lenders. Simply click on the "Loans"" tab on our home page and apply. Your application will be submitted to several lenders who will compete for your business if you qualify.

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Do I need good credit to buy these homes?
There are several types of loans for all different credit levels. Some of our lending partners even provide up to 100% financing!

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What is your business address?
Our business address is 3 West Carrillo, Suite 201, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

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