How to buy a foreclosed home as the best real estate investment property? Well, that is not an easy question. Further, there is much controversy on the topic of foreclosure. Although many people consider it to be a great way of financing real estate investments, that is not always the case. Others think that investing in foreclosed homes is a bad real estate investment decision. The argument of the ethical aspect when buying a foreclosure is present as well. Let’s explore how to buy a foreclosed home and if it can truly be a great real estate investment. In order to so, we will first explore what a foreclosure is. The next step is to reveal the benefits of investing in a foreclosed home as well as the associated cons. Last but not least, we will go over the question: “How to buy a foreclosed home as the best real estate investment property?”
#1 What Is Foreclosure?
Foreclosure is a situation which appears when the original homeowner has taken mortgage in order to buy his/her property and is unable to make full principal payments as well as interest payments on that mortgage. Typically, if the homeowner misses a month of payments, he/she will receive a notice from the lender. By not making the mortgage payments from three to six months, the owner of the home evokes a situation called foreclosure. Foreclosure allows the lender (typically a bank) to confiscate the real estate property, to evict the owner, and to sell the property as a foreclosed home as described in the mortgage contract. Foreclosure is a legal procedure which allows the lender to make an attempt to recover the money from the loan which the borrower stopped making payments on. There are various reasons behind foreclosures. However, it is important to notice that sometimes foreclosures happen voluntarily. After exploring the underlying concept of foreclosure, let’s jump into discovering how to buy a foreclosed home.
#2 The Pros of Investing in Foreclosed Homes
Finding and financing real estate investments, which are successful, is not a simple task. However, investing in foreclosed homes offers some benefits that you might not be able to get elsewhere. These benefits are often the answer to why and how to buy a foreclosed home. Here are the main reasons why foreclosures can be considered a great addition to your real estate investment portfolio:
-
Pre-Foreclosures
Some homeowners would be willing to sell their property before it becomes a foreclosure. There are various reasons for this. For instance, as foreclosures influence badly the real estate market in the neighborhood, owners might be willing to avoid influencing negatively the realtors in the area. Moreover, homeowners might need to move to a different state or country and feel the need to sell their property as soon as possible. Despite of the reason, buying a pre-foreclosure house typically means that there is a possibility to bargain and purchase the property cheaper. This is extremely beneficial for your budgeting and financial management as a real estate investor.
-
Great Discounts
Another pro that foreclosed homes offer to the real estate investors are the typical huge discounts on which they can be bought. Banks (the usual mortgage loan lender) aim to receive the sum left from the mortgage. Additionally, they are willing to sell the foreclosed homes fast in order to receive their money back. This results in extremely low prices for the foreclosed homes offered. Sure enough, purchasing a property at a lower price increases the potential return on investment you will receive form that real estate investment.
-
New Opportunities
Last but not least, due to their lowered prices, foreclosed properties offer various new opportunities to real estate investors. For instance, you might find a foreclosed home that you can afford in a luxury area that is typically off limits for your financial situation. In the same way, you might be able to invest in a very expensive property. Needless to say, this is a great way of financing real estate investments, thus, developing your real estate investing business.
Related: Looking for a Good Deal? Learn How to Buy Foreclosed Homes
#3 The Obstacles When Investing in Foreclosed Homes
There are two main cons you might face when trying to buy a foreclosed home. Exploring them is necessary in order to understand how to buy a foreclosed home. These cons are namely:
-
Big Competition
As the prices of foreclosed properties are lower and so desirable, many real estate investors are trying to purchase them. Of course, this leads to a bigger competition compared to the one when willing to purchase a non-foreclosure property. This big competition might result in not being able to get the desired real estate investment, and might thus be an obstacle when investing in a foreclosure.
-
Little or No Time to Evaluate the Property
Another great challenge is the lack of time, which results in the inability to properly check and evaluate the property. This hides a significantly big risk as you might enter a purchase not fully aware of the condition of the foreclosure as well as the potential costs needed to fix and repair some damages. Therefore, this step is not to be neglected, but rather taken in mind and considered carefully when investing in such a property.
Related: Real Estate Investing for Beginners: Avoid These Mistakes When Buying a Foreclosure
#4 How to Buy a Foreclosed Home as the Best Real Estate Investment Property
When understanding how to buy a foreclosed home as the best real estate investment property, you should, of course, try to avoid or at least minimize all the obstacles associated with such properties. Additionally, you need to find the best strategy to make this property a successful addition to your real estate investment portfolio. So, how to buy a foreclosed home? Easy! Just keep track of the following:
-
Calculate the Potential Associated Costs
One of the biggest downfalls is investing in a foreclosed home without calculating the potential costs associated with the property. This is a common mistake due to the fact that such properties are typically traded in a hurry. Nevertheless, this might cost you and your business a lot. For instance, if you end up paying enormous costs in order to fix a relatively low-priced property, the foreclosed home might be a liability rather than an asset for your business. Always take the time to calculate the potential costs.
-
Visit the Property Personally
This next step is in connection to the first one. It is advisable that you personally go and visit the real estate investment property. Explore what its features are and what its potential benefits are as well as damages or potential things to be repaired. This step is crucial for the success of your real estate investment.
-
Try to Take the Best Opportunities You Can
As previously mentioned, by investing in foreclosed homes, you might be able to purchase a property you would not be able to afford otherwise. The important thing here is to check for possible opportunities and be proactive if you want to get the best deal possible.
-
Try to Offer Cash
As previously mentioned, foreclosed homes are usually being sold in a rush. Therefore, offering cash might help you in eliminating the competition and getting the deal you want. Sure enough, having enough cash to cover the payment is not easy at all. However, it is worth trying to offer at least a big part of the sum in order to ensure getting the real estate investment property.
Related: How to Buy Foreclosed Homes from Banks and Why They Are So Great
Was it useful for you to learn how to buy a foreclosed home as the best real estate investment property? Head on to Mashvisor for more useful blogs, tips, and tricks on numerous real estate topics.
