By now, the general population knows that the housing market is tanking as foreclosures are on the rise. Whether you see it first hand in your increasingly empty neighborhood or you’ve been keeping up through the evening news; foreclosures are continuing and for some this is just fine.

First time and small investors are looking at those foreclosed homes as a way to get into a market that may otherwise be too expensive. Buying foreclosed properties are beginning to rise as these investors are seeing the advantages of the purchase.

The San Jose Mercury News newspaper has published an editorial saying that current government efforts to solve the nation’s housing crisis simply won’t get the job done.

The newspaper noted that the feds have been encouraging mortgage companies to do what they can to prevent home foreclosures by renegotiating difficult loans. However, as the newspaper states, the voluntary campaign hasn’t worked so far.