Apr 12, 2014

A Guide To Purchasing Bank Owned REO Properties

By Anita Ortega


A real estate owed or REO property is a property that is owned by a lender such as a bank after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. Some foreclosed homes fail to get a bid because the amount of money owed to a lender is more than what the property is worth. For this reason, the property reverts to the bank and becomes a bank owned real estate property. The mortgage loan does not exist and the bank handles an eviction if necessary.

Some banks may choose to pay for necessary repairs on a building. Banks also request the IRS to eliminate tax liens from the house and pay off debts owed to associations. Individuals who purchase bank owned REO properties are provided with a title insurance policy. These people are also allowed to have the property examined by a professional inspector.

When purchasing a REO property, you should examine it carefully before you make your offer. Determine if the price at which it is being sold is reasonable when you compare it to the prices of similar homes in the neighborhood. You should also consider if the home needs to be repaired or renovated and the duration such a project will take. Most banks prefer selling REO properties as is but they offer section 1 pest certifications if a buyer includes it in his or her offer.

You can have a property inspected in any way you want but you have to meet the inspection costs. You may create an agreement to buy a property that is contingent upon an inspection. With such an agreement, you can avoid buying a property if a bank is not willing to meet the costs of repairing significant damages. You may give a bank another opportunity to pay for necessary repairs to a home or provide you with a credit after it has been fully inspected.

Banks may renegotiate offers in order to save the transaction instead of putting the home back on the market. Most banks do not offer financing on their real estate owned homes but you can ask if you can get financing. This is especially the case if a home has extensive damage and you are purchasing it in its current condition.

When buying a REO property, prospective buyers are usually required to fax their offer to the bank that owns it. They are also required to provide the realtor with original documents, a buyer biography and a pre approval letter. Buyers should seek to make offers that are easy for banks to accept.

When selling REOs, all banks have similar goals even though they may work differently. They seek to get the highest price possible on the properties they are selling. They therefore sell most homes close to the full market value. After you make an offer to buy such a property, banks usually present a counter offer in order to demonstrate to shareholders, investors and auditors that they attempted to get the best price possible.

The offers that banks receive are reviewed by several firms and individuals and they are approved if they are satisfactory. REO properties offer a number of financial advantages. They minimize the risk associated with purchasing foreclosed homes. The process of foreclosing a home eradicates all taxes, title problems and liens allowing for straightforward transfer of ownership.




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