Helpful Tips on Purchasing a Foreclosed Property
It is anybody's guess when housing will finally hit bottom.
Nevertheless, if you plan to buy a house now and you plan to live in it for quite a while, there are many bargains for you on foreclosed properties.
Most banks are willing to sell foreclosed properties for twenty percent below the market value just to have these troubled properties off the books.
Since foreclosures are getting high in the past year, there is no shortage of your opportunity to buy a house.
However, you should be aware that buying a cheap distressed property is a lot more complicated and risky than a home that does not have that financial burden.
Here are several tips on purchasing a foreclosed property.
1.
Search for foreclosed homes in the internet.
You can surf web sites like RealtyTrac and Foreclosure.
com with a monthly fee of fifty dollars.
The best bargains are in areas with large distressed properties.
Before you decide, make sure to do some research first.
Choose one that is located in a decent neighborhood with nearby good schools and good employment rates.
2.
Be realistic to yourself and make sure, if you have enough money for repairs that these foreclosed houses often need.
Do not let yourself be lured by a very tempting small price for a home; the repairs expenses could surely be quite staggering.
3.
Find out how long the house is unoccupied.
A property that is unlived for a long time usually suffers the more damage.
The usual damages are in the plumbing, sewer gases back up and the bugs in the sewer gets into the house.
Toilets, washer drains and sinks also suffer the same fate.
4.
Check out the landscaping of the property.
Vines, bushes and untrimmed trees in a neglected house contribute greatly to its deterioration.
The vines could get into the windows and seedlings will root down to the foundation of the house.
5.
Do a home inspection.
Mortgage lenders and banks usually require a home inspection when they lend money for your home mortgage.
Even if you pay for the house from your own resource, it is still advisable to do a home inspection.
Hiring a professional home inspector ranges between $300 to $500.
6.
An HUD house might be of interest t o you.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has thirty-nine thousand houses insured by the federal government.
These houses go to the market in six months time after foreclosure.
Local governments get the priority to buy, after that, buyers willing to live in it will have the opportunity to bid.
If in case the property remains unsold after ten days, the listing is open for possible investors.
Overall, if you search with care, you may be able to find a good investment on a foreclosed property.
The important thing is that you can be able to purchase at a low cost and even a neglected house has the potential to become a proper home for someone who has the heart and the willingness to settle and improvise it.