Buying a house in foreclosure may save you a lot of money, but it’s not the only thing that these properties offer. Foreclosures can be an ideal option for investors who are looking to fix properties and sell them for better profits. Although, it’s vital to know that foreclosures come with drawbacks. If you’re considering buying a foreclosed property make sure to do thorough research. Scroll down to read our blog on ‘A Guide to Buying a House in Foreclosure.’
Types of Foreclosure Sale
There are five types of Foreclosure sales:
1. Pre-Foreclosure
Property is in pre-foreclosure when the mortgage lender has notified the borrowers they are in default, but before the property is offered for sale at auction. If a homeowner can sell during this time, they may be able to avoid an actual foreclosure proceeding and its negative effect on their credit history and future prospects.
Pre-foreclosures are typically listed in county and city courthouse buildings. In addition, many online resources list properties that are in the pre-foreclosure phase.
2. Short Sales
A short sale happens when a lender agrees to accept less money for a property than what is still owed on its mortgage. Borrowers don’t necessarily have to be in default for a lender to agree to a short sale, but usually, the borrower does need to show some kind of financial hardship that would likely lead to default, like the loss of a job.
3. Sheriff’s Sale Auctions
A sheriff’s sale auction is held after the lender has given the borrower notice of default and a grace period to catch up on mortgage payments has passed. The purpose of the auction is to help lender recoup their losses quickly from a loan that is in default.
4. Bank-Owned Properties
If a property doesn’t sell at auction, it goes back to the bank and becomes an REO. Banks usually have a department that manages these properties. You can find these properties online on websites like Elite Properties.
5. Government-Owned Properties
If a home is purchased with a loan that is backed by the federal government, such as an FHA or VA loan, and then goes into foreclosure, the government will seize the property and hire a broker to sell it.
Buyers interested in purchasing a government-owned property must work with a registered broker. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a list of registered brokers on its website.
Causes for a Foreclosure
There are multiple reasons why homeowners fall into foreclosure. One of the most common reasons for foreclosure is a job loss or unemployment. Other reasons why people fall behind on mortgage payments include debts, marital issues, or illnesses. Also, homeowners during a foreclosure may fall into a low-to-moderate-income category that may cause trouble within the job.
As everything has its pros and cons, buying a foreclosure home is not left behind. Below are some pros and cons to consider when it comes to buying a foreclosed property.
Pros of Buying A Foreclosure House
1. Low Prices
The most prominent pro of buying a foreclosure home is its price. As the homes are priced below their market value they can be an easy catch for investors or buyers. Furthermore, foreclosures can offer a ton of savings. Sourced from the balance, according to the real estate data aggregator ATTOM Data Solutions the worth of a foreclosed property over the past five years has ranged from $93,000 to $166,000.
2. Quick Closing Process
Comparatively, the average foreclosure process typically closes in 30 days as it’s a quick process. Although, till October 2020 the process took an average amount of 54 days from start to finish.
3. Investment Opportunities
A foreclosed property is a way to earn a good profit. Rehabilitating a house by doing a few adjustments can help in establishing a lot of value and gaining immediate equity. If you’re an investor who wants to flip the property for bigger returns then buying a foreclosure house is an ideal investment choice. With the right upgrades and improvements, you can gain a lot of value for an average home.
Cons of Buying A Foreclosure House
1. Multiple Repairs
As a foreclosure property requires selling as-is, this often relates to the that the property will need serious improvements. These houses need a lot of upgrades as the previous owner fails to maintain the house due to pricey repairs. Hence, if you are someone moving into a foreclosure property you will probably need to spend a lot of money on basic fixture improvements.
2. You May Not Get To View Or Inspect The House Before Buying The House
Foreclosure houses are sold on an as-is basis hence, there is hardly any chance for buyers to view the property. Additionally, you may not even get the chance to professionally inspect the property before submitting your bid. As these are some important points they can be deal breakers for many potential buyers. Also, you don’t have any access to the property before buying it. This means you can’t enter the property, and only look at the exteriors which are the windows and walls.
3. Competitive Market
Buying a foreclosure property comes with vying, there are several people looking to buy a property for cheap. The inventory can go out quickly as soon as the property is listed. Also, due to the pandemic where everything is online and people willingly avoid human interaction, the inventory goes out faster. The mortgage relief efforts during 2020 limited the amount of foreclosed homes hitting the market which created more competition.
4. It May Require a Huge Amount Of Cash
Keeping rehab costs aside, a buyer may require some upfront cash while buying a foreclosure home at an auction. Usually, at such events, buyers may have to bid in cash. Although, if you’re not bidding at such events for a foreclosure property and have good credit you may still bag financing.
Monetary assistance for homebuyers
USDA Loan Program –
There are two programs that the United States Department of Agriculture offers in order to help those with low or very low income who live in rural areas. The first program is called the Section 502 Direct Loan Program and the second is known as the 504. Both programs work to help these individuals obtain safe and decent homes.
The Section 502 program helps low-income or very low-income citizens pay for loans used to buy a modest residence in a rural area.
The Section 504 Single Family Repair program offers loans to very low-income people in rural areas who cannot get bank financing. Elderly people may be eligible for outright grants.
Veterans Administration Loan Program
The federal Veterans Administration has a mortgage guarantee program that is open to current service members, veterans, and surviving spouses. According to Military.com, the loans can be used to buy repossessed properties, although a bit of advance preparation is needed.
This program provides benefits that include zero down-payment loans, reduced closing costs, and a waiver of the mortgage insurance requirement to those who qualify.
Purchasing a Foreclosed Home
If you’re looking to purchase a property from a bank, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to be firm when it comes to negotiating prices. It never hurts to start low, especially if the bank has had the property for an extended period of time. In general, it’s a good idea to make an initial offer that’s at least 20% lower than the market price. However, this number could be higher depending on the location of the property, as areas with a high number of foreclosures often result in more favorable prices for buyers.
If you’re able to pay for the property and any necessary renovations completely with cash, you’re lucky. That’s why some buyers choose to team up with investors who can help finance the purchase and renovation, and in return, take a share of any profits when the home is eventually sold.
Bottom Line
When you consider buying a house in foreclosure it can result in potential savings. Although, it surely comes with a bunch of risks to deal with. Furthermore, if you think the home selling process will take a toll on your head, you may sell your house for cash. You can get in touch with Elite Properties. We are a cash buying company helping people to buy or sell houses. We buy houses as-is and offer hard cash in return. Call us today at 718-977-5462 to know more.
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