Alexis McGee teaches sold-out seminars on how to approach homeowners on the verge of foreclosure.

(Money Magazine) -- A hand shoots up in the back of the room.

"Alexis, she's got one," a student says.

Alexis McGee, real estate instructor and president of Foreclosures.com, scoots around her desk, sits down and picks up a headset.

"Tracy, look up. I'm on the line," McGee, 47, types into her computer, which is linked to a giant screen at the front of the room.

Tracy Romero, 31, and her 17 fellow students have reached the heart of McGee's $9,000 three-day seminar on foreclosure investing: They are cold-calling homeowners who are behind on their mortgages, getting them to talk and, the students hope, convincing them to sell.

But Romero is struggling. The home owner on the other end of the line demands to know who she is and why she's calling. Romero puts the call on hold as McGee reminds her of the sales technique.