The truth about buying a foreclosed home and why banks sell foreclosures for cheap
Banks and other mortgage lenders foreclose on homes to recoup the rest of the mortgage loan and associated foreclosure costs.
One of the things that makes buying a foreclosed home risky is that they can take a considerable amount of time to be processed, depending on the state. According to ATTOM, the average number of days for the foreclosure process is 857 although this number greatly differs from state to state.
There are five main types of foreclosure: pre-foreclosures, short sales, publicly auctioned properties, bank-owned real estate, and government-owned real estate.
When you buy a foreclosed property, you are essentially taking a gamble that the home will be worth much more later on (even after rehabbing costs have been deducted) than the price you paid for it initially.
Regardless of the type of foreclosure, owners are usually more motivated to get the property off their hands than to make a profit. Therefore, foreclosed properties tend to be sold for much less than other types of homes either in the MLS or off-market. According to Realtor.com, these homes can sell for as much as 15% below their actual value.
Another reason why foreclosures are priced cheaper than market value is that houses cost money to maintain and manage and banks don’t want to bear that cost. They also cannot keep the excess proceeds from the foreclosure sale, since they are legally required to return them to the original owner. In this way, foreclosed homes can seem cheap since banks have no incentive to overprice them.
Despite this, lenders are not powerless in the process of a foreclosure sale. They decide the opening bid price and interested buyers must bid from that price. Foreclosed properties can sell for much higher than the opening bid price, especially if the market is competitive.
What Makes Buying a Foreclosed Property Risky? Top 8 Disadvantages to Know
There are several reasons that make buying a foreclosed property risky. Some of them are associated with the nature of the property itself (an investment that is no longer sustainable) while others are related to the foreclosure process. Let’s see what makes buying foreclosed property risky:
1. Hidden costs and expensive repairs
2. Risky process
One of the biggest things that makes buying a foreclosed property risky is the buying process itself. Aside from the fact that the seller or bank is not liable for failure to disclose property defects, there’s no guarantee that the extensive repairs that you’ll need to carry out will yield a commensurate return on investment when you sell the property. Also, if the owners have left the property vacant for a while, it might be occupied by homeless people or undesirable elements.
3. You may not be able to inspect the home's interior.
4. Takes longer to complete the process.
The rate at which a foreclosure moves between phases tends to vary from state to state. Generally, lenders are required to wait until the borrower is 120 months behind their mortgage payment before starting the foreclosure process.
Before the house is auctioned off, the lender has to file the case with the state court. If the state allows non-judicial foreclosure, the lender can schedule a date for the property sale immediately after filing paperwork. But if judicial foreclosures are the norm, they need to wait for court approval, lengthening the process considerably. Buying the property via short sale instead of an auction can also make the process longer than usual.
5. You may assume previous liens and unpaid taxes
6. You might not get a traditional loan
7. Harder to secure insurance
8. Removing former tenants/occupants is your responsibility
Understandably, the previous residents of a foreclosed property won’t be too pleased with the turn of events. Consequentially, tenants are one of the biggest things that makes buying a foreclosed property risky. They might vandalize the property and cause further damages, or they may even refuse to leave the premises.
You must send a notice of eviction to the residents and file an eviction case with the court. The entire process can take 30 days or more. In some tenant-friendly states, tenants are required to have a 90-day notice of foreclosure.
6 Tips for buying foreclosures and HUD foreclosed homes with less risk
Listed below are strategies you can employ to minimize the risks of buying foreclosed properties and HUD foreclosed homes. HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) homes are homes that were purchased with FHA-insured loans and have been repossessed by the government.
1. Ensure your offer includes a home inspection contingency
You should only buy a foreclosed home if you have a home inspection contingency in place first. An inspection contingency allows you to conduct a professional home inspection in the timeframe before the contract becomes legally binding.
The inspection will check for structural issues, and check the major systems (HVAC, electrical, and plumbing) to see if everything is in working order and if any repairs are needed. If you can afford it, you should hire a specialized home inspector to carry out inspections like pest, chimney, and water inspections. Note that homes sold “as-is” are not available for inspection.
2. Work with a Realtor who has experience working with foreclosed properties
You might think that skipping the agent and dealing directly with the seller might save you costs but that hardly turns out to be the case, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. An experienced real estate agent can be indispensable when dealing with foreclosures for the first time. The agent will help you find foreclosures, walk you through the process, negotiate with the lender’s agent, make sure an inspection is carried out and present your offer.
They can help you avoid costly mistakes and save money in the long run. The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires you to work with a HUD-registered agent to submit a bid on one of their homes.
3. Get financing ready so you can act fast.
You should consider getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan. Having a mortgage pre-approval letter in hand allows you to compete with all-cash buyers. Keep in mind that the letter is only effective for two to three months, at most. Some financing options available for foreclosed properties are:
Conventional
It can be difficult but not impossible to get a conventional mortgage for a distressed property. As long as it is still habitable (i.e no holes in the roof, functional kitchen, etc) you should be able to find a lender for the home. You can consider getting pre-approved with the same lender or bank that sold the property, as long as their rates are reasonable.
203(k) Loan
An FHA 203(k) loan is a government-insured loan that enables homebuyers and homeowners to finance both the purchase and renovation of a house. There are two different types of 203(k) loans, based on the extent of repairs: limited 203(k) loans and standard 203(k) loans.
As with other FHA loans, a 203(k) loan requires a 3.5% down payment and the interest rate is lower than other options. However, getting a 203(k) loan can take some time and you are required to pay a mortgage insurance premium every month.
Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation Loan
The Federal National Mortgage Association (or Fannie Mae) offers a mortgage product known as the HomeStyle Renovation Loan that is perfect for financing foreclosed properties. This loan allows you to finance renovation costs and the home purchase with one mortgage. It comes at a much lower interest rate than personal loans. You may need to put in a bit of work to find a Fannie Mae HomeStyle lender.
Also, getting a HomeStyle Renovation loan requires a higher credit score than a 203(k) loan. However, the HomeStyle loan offers greater flexibility on the type of property you can use it for and the renovations you can make.
Hard Money Loan
This should be a last resort option after you have exhausted every other alternative. Down payments can be as high as 30% and interest rates can be quite exorbitant. Hard money loans are not advised if you are just starting.
HUD homes can be challenging to finance because they often need extensive repairs. Also, most foreclosure auctions require cash, bank money order, or checks for payment. So, you should consider the type of foreclosure you’re dealing with while selecting a financing option.
4. Do significant research on the property and the neighborhood
One of the simplest ways to buy a foreclosed property with less risk is to be sure to find out as much as possible about the previous owners and the circumstances surrounding the house. If possible, talk to the previous owner of the property. They may provide you with helpful information privy only to them.
It is necessary to conduct a title search on the property to determine if there are any liens or claims against it. You should also find out information about the neighborhood such as crime rates, trends in property values, and available amenities to decide if the investment is worthwhile or not.
5. Go for short sales instead of auctions
In a short sale, the bank agrees to allow the sale in exchange for getting back what they can from selling the house at a discount. In this case, the homeowner has to show proof of financial distress. Short sales are generally easier to close, but it may take a long time for the lender to approve your offer.
Auctions allow you to get the home faster but offer less room for negotiation. Additionally, most auctions only accept cash payments. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which one works for you. However, short sales do not affect a homeowner’s credit score, so the homeowner is motivated to sell.
6. Make sure you have enough money for renovation
Renovation costs can make buying a foreclosed property risky, especially if you don’t do your due diligence beforehand. Making the property livable can end up costing much more than you planned for. Hence, it is wise to get an estimate from a contractor before buying so that you have a budget in mind before moving forward with the purchase. When planning upgrades, you should ensure that they will have the desired impact on the property’s value. You should also have a good sense of how much work is too much. A foreclosed property that needs major remediation work may not be worth the hassle.
Final Thoughts
Foreclosed properties are not without benefits. They save you money and offer the potential of a huge return on investment. However, they are still a risky investment and are not advised for first-time investors. This article has shown you what makes buying a foreclosed property risky, and how you can avoid the pitfalls.
In summary, if you do choose to buy a foreclosed property, do your research beforehand and have someone experienced with foreclosures on your team.
If you’re looking to buy real estate in a less risky way, RealWealth can help! We work with property teams around the country that sell REAL Income properties™ with property management already in place.
