What are pros, cons of buying foreclosed homes?

When a homeowner can’t make his mortgage loan payments and the lender repossesses the property, the home becomes foreclosed and is typically available for sale soon after. Many benefits can come with buying a foreclosed property, but if you’re not knowledgeable about the process, there are pitfalls you need to consider. Before you purchase a foreclosed home, review the pros and cons to avoid ugly surprises.

Before you buy a foreclosed property, consider hiring a real estate agent. Having someone who’s looking out for your best interests might save you a big headache.

Don’t confuse a foreclosed home with a real estate owned property. An REO describes a class of property that a lender — typically a bank, government agency or government loan insurer — owns after an unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction.

There are four first steps to take if you’re thinking about buying a foreclosed home, according to Zillow:

■Determine what foreclosure properties are available in the areas you want to live in by reviewing listings in your local newspaper or on bank websites, accessing public records or conducting an online search.

■Check out the properties you’re considering in person so you can see their condition and neighborhood.

■Verify that the house is still in foreclosure. Contact the trustee who filed the paperwork to initiate the foreclosure or a local foreclosure specialist for this information.

■Order a title search to see if there are any liens on the property. If there are, it could raise the price.

Aspects of buying a bank-owned property are similar to buying from a homeowner, but there are opportunities to negotiate a better deal on a foreclosed property than you might otherwise get. Pros of buying a foreclosed home include:

■You can use traditional financing like VA and FHA loans.

■A home in the pre-foreclosure stage could lead to a short sale.

■If you have the required funds available to pay the outstanding balance on a foreclosed property’s mortgage to the lender, you’ll likely reduce competition.

■The bank will be motivated to sell the property, which means you might be able to negotiate price, down payment, closing costs and escrow length.

■The home’s title will be clear, so you won’t be taking on any liens, mortgages or back taxes responsibility from the previous owner.

■If repairs are necessary, the owner might take care of them.

Although buying a foreclosed home might seem like a great deal, it can have drawbacks. Cons of buying a foreclosed home include:

■The occupant might still be in the house and will need to move out. He might be upset about losing the property and damage it.

■If you purchase a house at a foreclosure auction, you buy it as is.

■When a foreclosed property is auctioned off, you have to pay for it in full when you buy it.

If you decide to purchase a foreclosed home, it might end up costing you more in repairs than you planned on, which could be a bad financial move. You might get a foreclosed home at a great price, however, and speed your path to homeownership.

If you’re considering buying a foreclosed home, enlist the help of a qualified real estate agent and your mortgage lender or broker if you’re using one. That way, you can get their expert insights and opinion on whether you’re getting a good buy.

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