Luke Daugherty is a freelance writer, editor and former operations manager. His work covers operations, marketing, sustainable business and personal finance, as well as many of his personal passions, ...

It's harsh but true: You can benefit from others' misfortune. The rise in foreclosures means that those in the market to buy a home can find great deals on houses that have been reclaimed by lenders.

Home foreclosure stories, like eviction stories, trigger two very different reactions. One is sympathy for the homeowner, who is enduring a traumatic, life-changing event that could have been avoided.