Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Bank Owned REO Properties For Sale

By Sherry Gross


It is common knowledge now that when property owners fail to service their mortgages, foreclosure proceedings are initiated and the bank repossesses the property. There are basically two types of foreclosure proceedings: judicial - where the courts are involved; and non-judicial where the courts are not involved in any way. Bank owned REO properties can arise from either of these proceedings depending on what the property owner does.

A property owner facing foreclosure always has the privilege to get back the property by paying the outstanding balance. However, this can only be done before proceedings are finalized. In the event a property owner fails to reclaim his or her property, ownership is transferred to the mortgage lender. REO (Real Estate Owned) properties are usually owned by banks and they can be disposed of just like any other type of real estate.

Usually, banks hire real estate brokers to help them handle transactions involving repossessed assets. There are many property listings on the Internet where prospective buyers can check out these assets and express their interest. Real estate agents are the ones who handle the whole transaction.

The increase in the number of REO assets was caused by the financial crisis that occurred some years back. The crisis force thousands of property owners to default on their loans, forcing lenders to initiate foreclosure proceedings. In the aftermath of this crisis, some people were able to reclaim their assets, but the vast majority were not as lucky.

Prospective buyers are in a position to acquire REO homes and commercial real estate at a reduced price. In most cases, these properties can be bought at a discount of up to a fifth of the current market price. However, prices often vary from one city to the next, and the realtor a person chooses to work with will also affect how much they pay.

If you think that there is a special procedure for buying a REO property, you should know that the process is the same that is followed when acquiring normal homes. Provided there is a willing buyer and and a willing seller, the transaction can be legally binding if there is a signed document that was obtained without duress.

In most cases, banks that own REO assets sell them without renovating, so buyers should always carry out an inspection before expressing their interest. The services of a professional inspector should be engaged to ensure that the property is in superb condition. As you may already know, dealing with water damage, mold, repairs and renovations can be very costly. Therefore, you need to carry out due diligence before you commit your funds.

There is no fixed price for any kind of second hand good whether it is a piece of machinery or real asset. For this reason, any buyer can acquire property at discounted rates. Having a strong negotiating skill is what is needed to get you the lowest price.




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