Even though you’re probably not buying a foreclosed property, or one that’s in preforeclosure, as a Buyer, you will benefit from the foreclosure market.  Contrary to many opinions, Foreclosures do enter into the Comparable Sales or Comps that are used when your Realtor helps you negotiate the price you are willing to pay.  Sellers hate them, and Buyers will like them when they buy, but remember, Buyers will someday become Sellers.   But hopefully they will be in the property long enough not to worry about foreclosures when they do eventually sell.  When that will be is very debatable, but the reports and opinions I see indicate about 1 to 2 years before the foreclosure situation gets back to normal.