Learn More About Bank Owned REO Properties

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.

An economic crisis occurred during the last half decade causing a downward surge in the housing market. This forced many property owners to default. Many of them lost their homes to mortgage lenders like banks while others managed to reclaim their houses. This crisis is to blame for the large number of REO's in the market.

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.

Buying a real estate owned asset involves the same procedures as buying a typical home. First, there must be advanced approval of a mortgage application. Secondly, a suitable real estate agent is sought. Thirdly, the right property is identified. This is often followed by negotiations where the buyer makes an offer and the broker counters until an agreement is reached.

Since many banks conduct the actual auction at the site of the property, it is recommended that you do a pre-visit to ascertain the condition of what you may want to purchase. You may consider hiring a home inspection professional to do the inspection for you. There is a fee for this service, but it is worth it especially if water damage, serious repairs, mold and other types of structural problems are identified.

By now you should know that there is no fixed price when it comes to purchasing second hand goods. For this reason, you should always negotiate with the aim of obtaining a lower price. Seller usually quote higher prices deliberately knowing very well that the buyer will want a discount. Before you commence the negotiations, you may want to visit the property in person.




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