Buying Foreclosure Properties

The real estate market is showing increasing signs of recovering and there are
great investment opportunities to be found. Home prices are still relatively
stable and interest rates are still very attractive. However, whether buying for a
primary residence or for investment purposes, there are still some basic guidelines
to follow when considering a foreclosure purchase.

1. Work with a broker. It does not matter if you are buying a foreclosure for
investment or as a primary residence, it is really helpful to have a broker help
with the process. Neighborhood is one of the most important factors when it comes
to buying a home and a broker is worth their weight in gold when it comes to
knowing the local real estate market.

2. Do the financial due diligence. All we need to do is remember the real

estate market crash to see why it is important to do a thorough financial due
diligence when purchasing a home. At the current time real estate prices are
projected to increase for the rest of the year.

Be realistic about your budget and how much home you can really afford. If the
home is an investment purchase, can you make the mortgage payment if you have to
carry the mortgage for a few months? That can happen with investment property so
be sure you factor in at least six months of mortgage payments just in case.
Also factor in the cost of any repairs. This is especially true with foreclosure
purchases which are often sold �as is� which means they often need repairs.

Verify the condition of the property. Restore and repair costs add up on a total
value of a home. It is always best to purchase foreclosure homes that require
minimal repairs, otherwise your profit margin shrinks.

3. Understand that every neighborhood is local to that neighborhood. What this

means is that what is selling in one area may not be selling just down the road, so
you need to do your homework and check comparable homes in the area to know whether
or not what you are buying is a good investment.

Get a proper assessment on the home you are considering purchasing. Foreclosure
homes will generally be thirty to forty percent discounted, so if a foreclosure
home does not need major repairs and you can get it for a price that is well below
the market value of similar homes in the same area, then you are probably making a
good investment.

4. Try and find foreclosures that are bank and creditor owned. These properties
are where you can most likely get the best deal because banks are not in the
business of owning property so want to sell these types of properties and will
often do so at a much discounted price.

Investing in foreclosure properties can be a very smart move, especially in the

current real estate market. With housing prices still relatively stable and
interest rates still very attractive, there are many good opportunities for
investment available. When considering purchasing a foreclosure property, it pays
to research the property and to do the financial due diligence in order to verify
the quality of the property and financing.