One option for prospective home seekers is to use a pre-foreclosure listing to locate properties in specific areas that may be currently on or shortly entering the market. Buying using a pre-foreclosure listing can allow the home seeker to contact the current homeowner before the foreclosure is put into place, meaning that the buyer and work directly with the homeowner and the lender. When the property is in foreclosure, the house is then put up for public auction, which can be a riskier proposition for both the buyer and the lender as prices can be significantly lower for the lender or much higher for the buyer depending on the bids on the house.
There are some people that feel that using a pre-foreclosure listing service is taking advantage of homeowners that are in financial difficulty. There is no question that there are some companies and investors that do exactly that through misinformation, scams and unscrupulous behavior. However, most people using a pre-foreclosure listing are offering a fair market price based on the location, condition of the home and the acceptance of the offer by the homeowner and the lending company if the mortgage is to be assumed. There is no doubt that the homeowners are very motivate to sell and typically the houses in pre foreclosure will sell well below the original purchase price, however typically the market itself is in a downward cycle. In addition the current homeowner, by selling prior to foreclosure, avoids the negative hit to his or her credit score and maintains their good credit record.
There are several different options to using a pre-foreclosure listing. The first option is to use a real estate agent that will use the list to screen for homes or properties that meet your basic requirements and price limits. The real estate agent can also contact the owner and set up a meeting to discuss options. The second option is to subscribe to a pre foreclosure listing service on the internet, which gives you access to pre foreclosure properties throughout the United States or just in one particular state or area.
The websites will range in subscription price depending on how extensive the service is. Some sites will provide a lot of information in the pre foreclosure listing while others will only provide a property location and perhaps a general description of the property. If you are shopping for property in a distant location, look for sites that offer pictures, video of the property, contact information and market evaluations and appraisals of the property. While these services will be more expensive to join, they will save you hundreds of dollars in travel expenses and search fees to locate owners and actually see the property.
A pre-foreclosure list is a tool that can be used to determine what properties in your area or an area you are interested in may be going into foreclosure and be available for purchase. It is important to keep in mind that houses or properties on a pre foreclosure list may not end up in foreclosure, especially if the owner is able to either refinance or work with the lender to set up a repayment plan that will deal with the deficit in the payments.
A home makes it onto a pre-foreclosure list in several different ways, depending on the type of financing and the various real estate laws within a state. Typically the lists are developed by the local courts through public notices, which are found through court filings by the lender. In some states where Judicial foreclosures are used, the lender has to file a notice of Lis Pendens with the court, which then hears the complaint of the lender. The homeowner is allows to also present their information, during this process the house or property is considered in pre foreclosure. The lender and borrower may resolve the outstanding debt prior to the court hearing, at which time the house would be removed from the foreclosure list and would not move into foreclosure.
The other option for a foreclosure is called a Non-Judicial Foreclosure, although a legally established process is still followed. The lender will file a Notice of Default as well as notify the homeowner that the house or property is in pre foreclosure. The owner then has a set amount of time to communicate with the lender to attempt to develop a plan to address the default payments. Once the time has passed for the owner to attempt to correct the problem, the lender will sell the property through a public auction.
While a pre-foreclosure list does not necessarily mean that the property is going to go to foreclosure, it can be a useful tool in determining what homes or properties may be available for sale during the pre-foreclosure period or may come on the market shortly. There are many different websites offering both foreclosure and pre foreclosure list information either on a state by state, county, city or broader area search option. These sites may be free and open to the public or there may be sites that require a paid membership to view the pre foreclosure list area. There are also several agencies that specialize in locating pre foreclosure list information for specific categories of properties that buyers or investors may be interested in purchasing.
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