Buying A Home – Facts On Buying A Foreclosure
If you're considering buying a home through a short sale or in foreclosure, you'll find the foreclosure process more challenging. A foreclosure hap...
If you’re considering buying a home through a short sale or in foreclosure, you’ll find the foreclosure process more challenging. A foreclosure happens when a homeowner can’t afford to pay his monthly mortgage payments and the lender decides to take legal action to force the sale of the home. With today’s disaster in the bank and mortgage industry, you’ll find more competition from bargain hungry homebuyers. You’ll discover foreclosure abound in every market, from luxury homes to the simple inexpensive ones.
A foreclosure proceeding happens over a specified period of time – the homeowner is first given an opportunity to resolve the delinquent loan. Once the bank has decided to assert their foreclosure rights, a homebuyer can take advantage of purchasing the home during three phases: 1) Pre-foreclosure, 2) At the public sale or auction, and 3) Directly from the bank after the foreclosure (called real-estate-owned or REO).
What makes buying a foreclosure so popular is the low price you get no matter which stage of the process you decide to buy. While there are positive aspects to buying a home in foreclosure, you need to be aware of certain drawbacks:
1) Reduced Protection As A Buyer – In a regular homebuying transaction, you’ll take certain steps such as obtaining title insurance which is designed to protect you from acquiring a property with a defective title. In a foreclosure process, you’ll have to sacrifice some of these protective steps and accept the property as is.
2) State Laws Protecting Homeowners – Laws have been enacted in most states protecting homeowners in default with their home loan from being unfairly foreclosed on. As a buyer, that means you’ll be facing deadlines, delays, court orders, and an unpredictable outcome – primarily in those states that permit the homeowner to “redeem” or purchase back the house after the foreclosure proceedings (usually between 10 days to one year). If this should happen, your money will be paid back. You have to decide if you really want to be left hanging, unclear whether you’ll be able to live in the house.
3) Real Estate Investor Competition – The real estate market abounds with plenty of investors searching for great deals on a a home. If you decide to pursue a foreclosure be prepared to fight other investors to buy the home.
4) Hidden Risks or Issues With The Property – Unfortunately, owners in foreclosure tend to cut out spending on property maintenance, property taxes, or liened up any remaining equity to secure other debts.
Now that you’re more informed about the foreclosure process, you need to decide if this is the route you want to take. If you do, be sure to hire a professional Realtor who has experience with these properties. If you want to still use a regular real estate agent, just make sure you define each agent’s role. Also consider using the services of a real estate attorney to guide you through the process.
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