You have people willing to lose their down payment because they most likely put very little down, they did not come in with a 20% down like the old days. You will have luck with short sales in the future because the companies holding these properties cannot do it forever, they have to answer to sombody (stock holders, creditors etc.) and will need to come up with some cash. I think their are some good deals out there but they are still not good enough with the economy uncertain.