Foreclosure Guide
When you are prospecting for a foreclosure, home the neighborhood should be taken into consideration. We all want to have a great home, but the neighborhood also plays a big part in the value of the foreclosure home purchase.
Investigate the area:
• What is the surrounding property like? Is it well kept or rundown? Is it a residential area exclusive to homeowners or is there a mixture of homes and rental units sandwiched together?
• Is the community stagnant, deteriorating, or being built up?
• Is there commercial property in the area? Are their retail stores and grocery chains either already in the neighborhood are considering coming into it?
• Will you have easy access to retail outlets without having to use your car each time you need a loaf of bread or and gallon of milk?
• Do you have access to buses and taxis, trains, subways or other public transportation?
• How many for sale and for rent signs are visible? From a foreclosure home purchase standpoint, it is always a more lucrative investment if there are more homeowners than renters or tenants in the immediate area. Property values are higher in an area that caters to homeowners.
• Not only is it important to consider the condition and age of the foreclosure home you are considering, it is also important to look at the age and maintenance level of all the homes in the area.
• Similarly, consider the age and quality of the cars in the area as well as the city maintenance of the roads and streets. Are there quiet residential streets or busy thoroughfares?
• Are the sidewalks clean and litter free, is there a good quality trash collection system, are the public parks well maintained?
• Are there community centers, schools, training centers, career opportunities in the area or close to the area in which you would like to buy foreclosure home?
• How good are the schools rated in the area?
• Consider the noise factor if you will purchase a foreclosure home in the vicinity of a industrial park, opposite an elementary or high school, or within the downtown core where there is traffic congestion, night clubs and various other night life activity.
• What is the level of security in the area? Are there hospitals, clinics, fire stations, and police stations? Is there a neighborhood watch?
• What is the crime rate in the area?
As you can see from the details provided above that purchasing a foreclosure home is more than merely living in a home, it is a community investment. For more tips on community living click on the site U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
If you are looking for a great deal and you have the time to wait for the perfect opportunity to come to your attention you might consider a foreclosure bank sale. The economy is not at its strongest and people who are distressed must attempt to sell their homes during the pre foreclosure period before the bank repossesses the property. Though the window of opportunity is smaller, the smart investor still can profit from great deals once the bank has repossessed the property and is offering it at a foreclosure bank sale.
There are actually three different ways to obtain the property way below market value.
• You can purchase the property from the original owner before the Judicial Foreclosure; which is a legal foreclosure supervised through the court system. During the pre foreclosure period the homeowner attempts to relieve him/herself of the burden of debt and maintain his or her good credit standing in the process.
• Another way to buy foreclosure property is through a public auction where the public can bid on the property up for sale.
• The third option is the foreclosure bank sale also known as Real Estate Owned (REO) by the original lending company (the bank in most cases or other lending company such as a mortgage company or credit union.
Many investors prefer to obtain their property directly from the existing owner before the bank or legal system becomes involved. Desperate homeowners will often sell prime property at a ridiculously low price to avoid going into foreclosure and receive some compensation for the sale. Investors have the opportunity to inspect the property before sale is finalized.
The second preferred option is the foreclosure bank sale, after the property has been reposed and is now in the possession of the bank. Again the prices will remain well below market value of the property and a property inspection is also available.
The auction option is the least desirable of the three for the simple reason that there is no guarantee that the prices will remain low, often time they are elevated to stimulate more profit at the disadvantage of the bidders. The investor often buys the property unseen without being able to inspect for repairs and the general maintenance of the property.
It is important to note that buying at an auction might cause you some problems if you are buying in a state where the original owner has “the right of redemption”. To avoid these legal hassles buy the property through the pre foreclosure period, with the original owner or purchase the property through a credit union, mortgage company or foreclosure bank sale.
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy