Sales brisk on foreclosed homes

NEW YORK, March 9 (UPI) -- An estimated 3,000 bargain hunters scooped up nearly 400 foreclosed homes at steep discounts, says the New York auction service that handled the sale.

The homes in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were auctioned Sunday at discounts of 50 percent and more at the Jacob Javits Center, The New York Post reported Monday.

"I really can't believe it. I'm still shaking," said Carlo Solano, 30, of Brewster, N.Y., a construction worker who paid $350,000 for a three-bedroom, three-bath home in Westchester County, N.Y.

The home's previous owner had paid $740,000 for the property before falling behind on mortgage payments, auction documents show.

The bargain hunters were greeted outside the Javits Center by 21 protesters who held signs saying, "Bail out the people" and who chanted, "The auction is shame."