The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has launched a new web-based mapping tool displaying the location all foreclosed properties being held by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which collectively account for nearly half of all real estate-owned properties in the nation.

HUD’s REO Portal is intended to help local communities, homebuyers and investors to acquire the properties and accelerate efforts to stabilize local housing markets, according to a statement. The tool enables users to search a specific address or neighborhood, as well as estimated delinquency counts based on HUD analysis for local Neighborhood Stabilization Program activities.

"In this case, a picture is worth more than a thousand words," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This new mapping tool gives local communities a much clearer picture of where these foreclosed properties are so they, along with private investors, can focus their energies in especially hard-hit neighborhoods."

You can view the REO Portal here.