Posts Tagged ‘bank pre-foreclosues’

Preforeclosures – Are they Better then Foreclosures?

by Joyce Crossman

Most people in the US are aware of the current real estate crisis and the unsettling fact that many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. Before a home is in the process of becoming foreclosed, it is in the pre-foreclosure stage. The pre-foreclosure period can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and is considered by many real estate investors as the absolute best time in which to negotiate the purchase of a home.

Many houses that are ‘for sale by owner’ are houses that are in a period of pre-foreclosure. The lenders sometimes allow the homeowners to try to sell their home before foreclosing it. The banks are not in the real estate business themselves and would rather the owners sell the home instead of (the lenders) having to foreclose it.

Many Realtors agree that buying a pre-foreclosed home is an excellent idea. Here are many advantages to buying a pre-foreclosed home from a homeowner rather than a foreclosed home at a government auction:

- A pre-foreclosed home could actually be cheaper then foreclosure because you are dealing one-on-one with an owner who desperately wants to avoid foreclosure.

- You will be given good opportunities to ask the home owner questions concerning the home.

- Typically less competition then at a foreclosure auction where there is multiple bidding for the same property. Foreclosures attracts more of the mass real estate market then pre-foreclosures does.

- More time to evaluate financial scenario then at an auction.

- Auctions can be either overwhelming or lead to egotistical or emotional decisions.

- Less risk of potential problems because you can get a good look at the house ahead of time, and in some cases have it professionally inspected.

- You will be allowed to make a low down payment on a pre-foreclosed house. At a government auction you would be required to pay the total amount in cash.

Always check to make sure that the pre-foreclosed home you?re interested in has no liens or judgements against it. You should also bring along someone to inspect the home for you so you?ll know of any problems it may have. The risks in purchasing a pre-foreclosed home are similar to purchasing a home the traditional way, only a lot less expensive! You can even resell the pre-foreclosed home for more money than you purchased it for.

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