Pre-Foreclosure Homes advice needed

Can anyone provide information/advice on purchasing a pre-forclosure home??? I will be a first time home buyer so any advice would be helpful.

Is it a short sale?(seller selling for less than owed) If yes, make sure your agent has done a few or get an agent that has. The first short sale class I took the teacher said the buyer and seller must work together to make these things happen. The buyer must have lots of patience. They can take a long time. The bigger the bank, the longer they take.