Looking to purchase a new house but concerned that you will not be able to make the monthly mortgage payment? Or perhaps you want to buy in a nice area but believe the homes are out of your price range. Buying a foreclosed house could be the answer.

As you might expect, knowing what you’re searching for and how to shop for a foreclosed home is essential. We will look more closely at what it means when a house goes into foreclosure. We will also go over the advantages, disadvantages, and methods involved in purchasing a foreclosure.

What Does “Foreclosed House” Mean?

A foreclosed house is typically owned by a bank or lender. Every mortgage contract includes a lien on your home. A lien permits your lender to seize ownership of your home if you fail to make your mortgage payments. In other words, Lenders can foreclose on a home if homeowners fail to make their normal monthly mortgage payments, in which case they acquire ownership of the property.

Banks and mortgage lenders will subsequently try to resell these homes, frequently at cheaper prices or with a smaller down payment. That is the primary advantage of purchasing a foreclosed home: You might be able to get a house that would have been out of your financial range otherwise.

Although there are hazards associated with purchasing a foreclosure, the procedure is not much more complicated than the average house buying experience, and purchasing the correct foreclosed property can bring you a nice house at a cheap price.

How Does Foreclosure Work?

Foreclosure is the process by which a lender takes control of a home when a homeowner fails to make their mortgage payments. It includes multiple stages that a buyer should be aware of before considering a foreclosure.

Payment Default And Notice of Default 

Payment default occurs when a homeowner misses at least one payment, and after several months of missing payments, a homeowner’s entire mortgage can default. This usually starts the foreclosure procedure in the pre-foreclosure stage. After 90 days of missed payments, the lender will normally send a notice of default.

Foreclosure referral timelines will vary depending on the contract agreement as well as the lender’s and mortgage investor’s policies. Before a home is foreclosed and put up for sale, the homeowner is frequently given an opportunity to work out a new payment plan with the lender.

Notice Of Trustee’s Sale

Notice of trustee’s sale: The lender must file a notice of trustee’s sale with the county and publish it in the local newspaper. This is one method of locating a foreclosure to buy, however, an online search is usually more helpful.

Trustee Sale 

Simply, this is when the lender tries to sell the property at a public auction.

Real Estate-Owned 

If the property fails to sell at auction, the bank will take ownership. They will next make an effort to sell the property. This is the stage of foreclosure at which most people intending to get a foreclosed house, especially those using a VA loan, will buy.

Short Sale

A short sale occurs when a homeowner sells their home for less than what they owe on the mortgage because the value has decreased. With a home up for short sale, the foreclosure process has not been finished. Because the homeowner still owns the home, you must work with their

REALTOR®. When you buy a short-sale home, the lender (not the homeowner) must approve your offer. You may have to wait a long time to get your approval.

How To Buy A Foreclosed Home

Do you think that purchasing a foreclosed house is the best option for you? Here are the steps you can take to purchase a foreclosed home:

Learn About Your Options

There are two major ways to buy a foreclosure: at an auction or from a lender after the sale has failed.

Buying At Auction

You will most likely acquire a home faster if you go to auction than if you negotiate with a bank or a seller. Homebuyers can potentially purchase a house at auction for substantially less than market value. However, most auctions only take cash payments, so you will need to have a large amount of money on hand for the purchase.

If the auction does allow for mortgage financing, make sure you have a preapproval letter ready. It is critical to understand that not all approvals are the same. We recommend a Verified Approval, which verifies your income and assets.

By bidding at an auction, you agree to buy the house as-is, with no appraisal or inspection. This implies that when you buy a foreclosed home at auction, you are taking a big risk. If this is something you’re interested in, consult with a real estate attorney.

Buying From A Lender

When you buy a property from a lender’s real estate-owned (REO) inventory, you avoid dealing with the homeowner entirely. Before you buy a foreclosed property, the lender typically clears the title and evicts the current owner.

Most lenders will not sell a property to an individual; instead, you will need to work with a professional real estate agent to view available properties. These houses are usually offered “as-is.” However, you may be able to see the place and schedule an inspection before closing.

Work With a Real Estate Agent

Most lenders assign foreclosed properties to an REO agent, who works with regular real estate agents to find a buyer.

It is important to realize that not every real estate agent has worked with REO agents. A qualified foreclosure agent may assist you in searching for foreclosures, navigating your state’s REO purchasing process, negotiating your price, ordering an inspection, and making an offer. Research real estate agents in your region and make contact with one who specializes in foreclosure sales.

Find Foreclosed Homes For Sale

Although your real estate agent will most likely be able to assist you in your search for foreclosures, you may want to conduct your own research as well. The internet has made it much easier than it used to be to locate foreclosures in your neighborhood and around the United States in general. There are lots of websites that can help you with your searches such as Zillow and Realtor.

Foreclosures can also be found in multiple listing service (MLS) publications and websites, bank offices and websites, and local newspapers. Some banking institutions, such as Bank of America, have dedicated sections to help you in your search for a foreclosed home. The foreclosure status of homes may not be highlighted in local multiple-listing services; the information may only be indicated in the property description.

Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval

Unless you buy a home at a foreclosure auction, you will most likely need a mortgage to cover your purchase. You will want to be preapproved for a loan after you have chosen an agent and started looking at houses. A pre-approval tells you how much you can borrow for a house loan. To narrow your search, find a lender and apply for a mortgage pre-approval.

Request An Appraisal And An Inspection

When purchasing a foreclosure, inspections and assessments are both essential. An appraisal is a lender requirement that determines the value of a property. Lenders want evaluations before making house loans because they want to make sure they are not lending you too much money.

A house inspection is a more thorough examination of a property. A professional will walk through the house, recording everything that needs to be replaced or fixed. Because foreclosed houses typically have greater damage than homes for sale by owner, you should insist on an inspection before purchasing a foreclosure.

You may not always have the opportunity to request a home inspection or appraisal before making a purchase. That’s because they are usually sold “as-is”. You should expect to not have this option. You should only consider purchasing these types of foreclosed properties if you are an expert in-home repair.

Make a Purchase

Read your inspection and appraisal results before deciding whether the home in question is truly right for you and whether you are willing to buy a home as-is. If you have the funds or skills to undertake any necessary changes, contact your mortgage lender to complete your loan. Your real estate agent will assist you in submitting your offer and preparing for the closing.

Pros of Foreclosures

Buying a foreclosed home comes with some advantages, among which:

Lower Prices

The most appealing feature of foreclosed homes is, of course, their lower price. They are often dramatically lower than comparable properties in the same area. The majority of foreclosures are sold at a significant discount below market value, with the exact amount varying by area. Buyers can also save money with additional benefits including lower down payments, lower interest rates, or the removal of appraisal fees and some closing costs.

What makes these houses such a good deal? If the house is in the pre-foreclosure or short-sale stage, the owners are in a financial bind—and time is running out. They must unload the property and get what they can while they still have possession of it. In summary, these sellers are not negotiating from a position of power. And while it may seem harsh to profit from the misery of others, buyers can benefit.

Standard Loan Configurations

When purchasing a foreclosure, you may have to follow a slightly different bidding and purchasing process. But you still have a few lending choices as long as it is not a cash-only auction. You can get a conventional loan or a government-backed VA loan, FHA loan, or USDA loan to buy the property you want as long as it is in livable condition. Government-backed loans can make homeownership more accessible; nevertheless, if the property is damaged, the government may demand repairs.

Cons of Buying a Foreclosure

Purchasing a foreclosed home is riskier than purchasing an owner-occupied home. The following are some of the disadvantages of purchasing a foreclosed property:

More Maintenance Concerns

Some homeowners have no incentive to keep their homes in good condition if they know they may lose them to foreclosure. If something breaks, the homeowner is unlikely to spend money to repair it, and the condition may get worse over time. When you buy a foreclosed home, you are responsible for repairing any defects that may exist.

As-is Houses

The lender’s primary priority is recouping their money as soon as possible, which almost always means an as-is sale. If you do not have a significant amount of money to invest in repairs, you should not consider a foreclosure.

Hidden Expenses

Along with unplanned maintenance and renovation work, delinquencies such as back taxes and liens—which auction homes frequently have attached to them, either by the IRS or state or other creditors—can add additional expenses to an otherwise appealing house.

Whatever is owed to the government must be paid and addressed before the purchasing procedure can begin. This is especially true for auctioned-sold properties; a bank will always pay off any debts related to the property before reselling it to another party.

The Competition

As with any market, anytime there is an opportunity to get something at a lower price than the going rate, demand will skyrocket. When dealing with valuable foreclosed properties, higher interest and competition are unavoidable, not only from possible occupiers but also from investors and professional house flippers.

Foreclosed homes are frequently priced much lower than comparable homes in the neighborhood. When news gets out, multiple offers can pour in quickly, resulting in a bidding war. As a result, what was once a bargain might quickly become an expensive property.

Bottom Line

Purchasing a foreclosure might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for homebuyers wishing to pay cheaper prices or less than market value. Keep in mind that many foreclosed properties may have substantial structural damage and are typically sold “as-is.”

If you want to take a chance on a foreclosure, contact an experienced real estate agent. Since most lenders do not sell to individual buyers, your real estate agent will help you through the foreclosure process.

Once you find a home you like, get an appraisal and a property inspection. A mortgage pre-approval will also be required to get funding. Once the results of your inspection appear satisfying, follow up with your lender and agent to finalize the deal.

References:

• Buying A Foreclosed Home: A How-To Guide | Rocket Mortgage
• Buying a Foreclosed Home: How to Do It and Risks