Looking for a Good Deal on a Property in Anywhere, USA?

When it comes to home buying, especially in today's market, people always want "a good deal."

And with the plethora of information available at a moment's notice from numerous online resources, it makes it easier for novice and seasoned real estate investors, or someone just wanting to buy a primary residence, to figure out whether or not they are making a wise buying decision.

As a real estate professional, I find that many people want to do their own investigative reporting or double-check what I tell them about the market, even though my information is based on firsth-hand experience. And while I am knowledgeable about the greater Phoenix/Scottsdale market, I have found some helpful nationwide resources that do a decent job of providing consumers with information on markets across the country.

Here's some that I find pretty informative, check them out and let me know what you think.

Cyberhomes.com -- For $9.95 per month, you can learn all about the number of delinquent homes, foreclosures and REOs (real estate or bank owned) properties in a given geographic location, right down to a specific neighborhood. This is often used as a gauge to determine if the neighborhood is on the rise or in decline.

Trulia.com -- Looking for a bargain? This site currently lists 3.2 million homes nationwide where prices have been reduced once, twice, maybe three times. Find out which sellers are most motivated to sell.

Investorloft.com --- Whether or not you're a real estate investor, this site is helpful because it tells you whether or not there is instant equity in the home. It does this by comparing list price vs. current value and calculates the difference. For novice and would-be investors it also addresses cash flow and cap rates.