If you are like most people, you may not quite trust the word “free” anymore. However, when it comes to foreclosure listings, there really are ways to get free real estate foreclosure listings. You might think you have to join a special real estate foreclosure club or get listings through third-party online websites that compile this information, but it's not true. You can generate free real estate foreclosure listings right from the privacy of your own home – if you now where to look.
The Newspapers
Your local newspapers will have information in the Public Notice section of upcoming foreclosure sales. You can either subscribe to multiple local newspapers or you can check them out at the local library for free. This won't give you all the information you need to bid on a property, but it will allow you to start building free real estate foreclosure listings to research for potential bids down the line.
The Public Records
Searching the public records is free. If you are trying to search multiple states, you can check online to see if their records are searchable online. In this modern age where you can find public records online, you don't even have to waste gas money to start building free real estate foreclosure listings from the privacy of your own home. Some public notices of foreclosures also include the tax lien information on the record too, making your search that much better.
Let Them Come To You
If you are an investor that has a proven track record of buying foreclosures, then you might want to get a local real estate agent to do some of the leg work for you. They end up getting 6% of the sales, but typically it's the seller that pays their commission, not the buyer. So, why not put the word out to someone who understands what you are looking for so they can help you locate foreclosed homes or REO (real estate owned) properties. It may not be free for the realtor, but it should be free for you and you get the added advantage of seeing items that may be in the MLS that don't show up elsewhere.
Being Frugal
While being frugal and getting free real estate foreclosure listings has obvious appeal, you don't want to waste too much time compiling lists that you can buy for very little through a third party. Always check the time costs versus savings benefit to see if it makes sense to get free real estate foreclosure listings by doing some upfront work yourself, or whether it pays to someone else do it for you.
It seems like everyone out there in the real estate business is trying to sell or buy foreclosures. The most used tool used to do this is the free real estate foreclosure list. In some cases, the free real estate foreclosure list is offered on free trial for a membership site, so you can try out their services. You can get get free information from these sites, the city or county, and even government sites like HUD.gov. There are some risks involved in getting information from free sources that you should be aware of before making a final decision.
Outdated Information
Some lists aren't updated frequently enough and the information is outdated. This can cause problems if you spend a lot of time researching a specific property on the free real estate foreclosure list, only to find out it is no longer under foreclosure. In between the time the list was created, posted, and subsequently read by you, the owner may have found a way to pay back the bank, gone into bankruptcy (which stops the foreclosure process for a period of time), done a short sale, or sold conventionally. Don't waste your time assuming a property is still being foreclosed if you get it off a free real estate foreclosure list, always double-check its current status.
Insufficient Information
Obviously, the free real estate foreclosure list may not be as comprehensive as the paid ones. You want to be able to get as much information on a property before you buy: the square footage, the comparable market sales, the condition of the property, and the liens that might be outstanding. Even if you pay for a list instead of getting a free real estate foreclosure list, you will want to give the property a visual inspection and even see if you can opt to get a home inspector in too during the buying process. Some foreclosures allow you to do that, but you have to add a special clause to the contract.
Inaccurate Information
Buying foreclosures is a risky business. None of the information on a paid or free real estate foreclosure list is guaranteed. Foreclosures are sold “as is” and can come with huge repair costs and back taxes owed. You have to do your homework regardless of the information you find on a list, since it might be completely inaccurate. It is up to you, the buyer, to verify any information you get from any list, whether it is a paid or a free real estate foreclosure list.
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