Bank Owned REO Properties For Sale

| Monday, June 30, 2014
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.

Banks normally use real estate agencies to deal with their REO holdings. These assets are normally posted on various listings for prospective buyers to express their interest. When this is done, the transaction and negotiations are done by the realtors. The property can be sold without consulting the banking institution that owns it provided the minimum price has been met.

Over the last five or so years, the number of REO's has increased significantly due to the housing crisis that occurred a few years ago. Many people defaulted on their mortgages forcing banks to repossess their homes and commercial real estate holdings. While some individuals were able to reclaim their assets, others did not have the financial muscle.

If you are looking for a home to live in with your family, consider buying REO homes which are readily available at discounted rates. Some of them even cost as low as 80 percent of the market price. The price quoted by sellers, however, may vary according to the neighborhood, state, design or general condition among other factors. That said, comparing prices is the most important thing when buying a used item.

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.

When buying a used item, whether it is property or a car, you should know that prices are never fixed. You can always buy property at a much lower price than what the seller quotes. All you need to do is negotiate and show willingness to close the deal as soon as possible. However, you should have the value of the property appraised before you start negotiating the price.




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