Unfortunately, times have changed.

Buying a Massachusetts three-bedroom home in the suburbs seems to be a privilege reserved only for the wealthy.

If this unfortunate turn of events seems unfair to you, you are not alone.

Many Americans are struggling to purchase even a tiny home or piece of property in Massachusetts in which to raise their families.

With the recent real estate boom there has been an inevitable fall.

Many people who purchased Massachusetts properties at inflated prices five and ten years ago are finding that they were in over their heads.

Many of these Massachusetts properties are now being sold for a fraction of their original prices through foreclosure auctions.

Foreclosure auctions occur when a property or homeowner fails to pay off their home loan.

The lending institution then takes on the property and sells it to recover their losses.

This means that, as the previous owners have paid off some portion of their loan, the property need only be sold for a portion of its value. One of the major differences between purchasing a foreclosure home and purchasing a home on the regular market is the seller.

Normally, when you purchase a home, the seller, your real estate agent and their real estate agent are all vying for your money.

Each person takes a cut and each is rallying for the property to be sold at the highest price possible.

When you purchase a foreclosure home, the situation is completely different.

The homeowner is not involved in the sale, and neither are any agents.

The sale takes place between you and the bank.

The lender's primary interest is not maximizing the price of the property, but getting rid of it quickly.

Whereas a regular property for sale may stay on the market for many months while the sellers try to get the highest possible price, foreclosure properties are sold within days or even hours, at nearly any price.

For each day that a lending institution is in possession of a foreclosed home, it is losing both money and face.

The reputation of a bank is more important than a few extra dollars, and having a foreclosed home on the market is not good for their reputation.

This is a major point of negotiation in foreclosure sales.

If you have the guts to plunk down a few thousand dollars on what may be the best investment of your life, then you may have what it takes to become a Massachusetts millionaire.

Even going with a safe foreclosure property could mean an excellent deal on your Massachusetts dream home or, at least, one like what your parents had.

Whatever your means or reasons, Massachusetts foreclosure properties are the last vestige of affordable real estate left in the State, take advantage of it while you can.