1) Top 5 Steps to Avoid Foreclosure without Falling Into a Loan Modification Scam – If you are thinking of doing a loan modification beware of all the scam companies out there. Loan mods seem to be the top money generating scam these days in real estate. Here are some tips on avoiding the scams.

2) What is a Short Sale? – We throw the words short sale around often, but do you know for sure what a short sale is and what it is going to mean to you the buyer or seller?

3) I Want To Be Your Second Choice When You Choose A Realtor – I have heard this point before and it is a great point. Hire your friend first, then if they don’t get it done, Ian Watt says call me.

4) Why Are HUD Homes Becoming Popular Again? – There are a lot of great HUD programs and I also have noticed the supply of HUD homes has been on the rise around here too.

5) Understanding Strategic Defaults – Strategic defaults seems to be the phrase of the month.

6) Where can I get the best real estate deal in Scottsdale? – Deal, that is what every buyer says they want and of course, who doesn’t. But deal should not be price alone.

7) NAR: FHA to announce changes this week – There was a lot of talk in late 2009 about FHA raising the minimum down payment from 3.5% to 5%, which I supported. But another possibility is leaving it at 3.5% but raising the mortgage insurance premium payment up front. Either way, expect changes over the next year in FHA loans.

8) Marty Frame Answers MLS Concerns About RPR™ at ICNY 10′ – A great watch for any real estate agent on RPR and MLS’.

9) Which Sells More Homes: Local MLS or National Real Estate Website – A good discussion, do more people find houses through their MLS or national real estate site? Based on my experience with my clients it is not even close, MLS wins.

10) 8 Things You Should Do Before Writing Content For Your Real Estate Website – I can tell from my RSS reader that many real estate bloggers made a resolution to write more this year, and I can also tell over the last week that has slowed down a little. In a rut, here is some good advice for getting your groove on again.

Video 75: I have a short sale listing that seems to have found it’s way into the center of a scam on Craigslist. Someone found the owners name in the tax records, created a yahoo e-mail address with it and posted the property on Craigslist as a rental. A cheap rental too. The house would normally rent for between $1000-$1100 a month, but was listed for only $700. Everyone together now… if it sounds to good to be true…. The person who created the ad said they were out of country for a while and needed to rent it. Anyone who is asked to send money out of country should obviously know right away it is more than likely a scam. Two people who saw my short sale listing today contacted me, so they were smart enough to figure it out. Watch out for scams on Craigslist. Would love to hear your thoughts, you can leave a comment or e-mail me Dean Ouellette.