Saturday, February 13, 2010

Insider Secrets to Locating and Buying Foreclosures

Secrets for Buying a Foreclosure Property

Most experts predict that the United States will see a record number of foreclosures through 2010. By 2011, experts predict that the foreclosure rate will level off and perhaps begin to decrease. So what does this mean to you? It means that 2010 is the perfect year to buy or invest in a foreclosure home or condo at well below market price. You can find properties for 40% to 50% off, or even more below market value if you know where and what to look for. Waterfront properties are good properties to consider when looking for forclosure deals for your personal use or even as rental. Properties on or close to the water ususly have a higher appreciation over the long term. If you are looking at areas that are undre value and have quality water front properties You may want to consider the Myrtle Beach area. In Myrtle Beach there are many properties that meet and exceed waterfront and are way under value. Now is the time to buy.

First, you have to understand the process of foreclosure. A foreclosure is a legal process whereby a creditor repossesses collateral for a loan that's in default. In most cases, that means the bank or mortgage lender repossesses a house so that they can resell it to satisfy the debt. This amount tends to be below market value, which is why you have the opportunity to get a good deal. However, the property is usually sold "as is". You can start out by finding foreclosure listings or bank owned property listings. An expert real estate agent who has the skill level in working with foreclosure sales, will help find you the right property. The expert will save you a lot time and aggravation and will also give you the secrets and the tips to invest like a pro. Don't assume you can work with just any real estate agent. You want to find an agent who has experience with these types of sales and who demonstrated the ability to get short sales, foreclosures, and REO sales closed. Remember to do your research and be choosy about whom you work with.

You also need to know that foreclosure properties are usually sold as-is. This means you may encounter plenty of unpleasant surprises, such as a home that requires some repairs. It's important that you personally inspect the property and weigh your options. Also, it's a good idea if you hire a property inspector to have your mind at ease. If you don't know any property inspector, the Real Estate Expert you're working with can inform you of the right one to choose. Your next step is to check out the neighborhood that the property is in. Drive around a neighborhood at different times of the day. Take note of the other properties in the area, the general condition of the area and upside potential for appreciation. When you are working with the right real estate agent, he or she has already done this for you.

If you get a pre approval letter prior to your search, this will be a good tool for beating out the competition if multiple offers come in on a property. Unless you plan to pay in cash, you will need a recent preapproval letter from a lender when you put any offers in with a bank. Getting pre-approved for a home mortgage loan is the first step to getting the actual loan. When you get pre-approved for a mortgage loan, you are finding out how much money a particular lender is willing to lend you. With good credit, many banks will provide a loan with competitive interest rates. If you are looking to use the property you perchase as an rental income producer, some banks may require a little more down payment.

We don't know how long this current window of opportunity will last, but we do know it is a fantastic time to buy right now.



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