1) Use a Qualified, Market Knowledgeable real estate professional. Your chosen real estate professional can provide information about what is currently on the market, what has recently sold, and a history of the homes and neighborhoods. In order to find great values you need to know the current value of the property you are considering. Without knowing this, you will never know what is a good value when you see it.

2) While some Destin and Pensacola properties are priced to sell, many properties at this time are not. Properties must be priced correctly given current today's market conditions. Once you know the current value of a given property you can approach the seller with a supportable offer. Keep in mind that supportable is a value based term.

3) Many prospective Pensacola or Destin real estate buyers are looking for foreclosed homes but are unprepared to handle the downside of foreclosed properties: deferred maintenance, limited fundability and issues with the deed. It often makes more financial sense to look for pre-foreclosure opportunities. Why wait until the property has been abandoned and foreclosed on? This is where the "short sale" comes into play.' Many home owners looking at foreclosure would prefer to work with their bank and potential buyers to pursue a short sale.

4) Timing is everything.  Some people think that they will wait till the market bottoms out. The most savvy of investors look for good values, not at pinpointing the exact moment the market has leveled off. The problem with timing any market is you never know where the bottom is until it is long passed. The world is filled with the "Could Have, Would Have, Should Have" crew that never did when they had the opportunity. Don't be one of them.