If you owe a financial institution a mortgage loan and in the process of servicing it you fail to honor all the terms and conditions, foreclosure proceedings may be initiated against the house. Foreclosure can be conducted either through the courts in judicial foreclosure proceedings or outside the court in a non-judicial process. Through this two methods, bank owned REO properties come into being if the property owner fails to reclaim it.
The property owner has every right within the law to reclaim the asset in question at any stage of the proceedings. However, this right ceases to exist once the foreclosure proceedings are completed since the lender will be the new owner. The bank can either choose to sell the property or rent it out for regular income. In most cases, real estate agents are normally hired to liquidate the property.
Banks normally use real estate agencies to deal with their REO holdings. These assets are normally posted on various listings for prospective buyers to express their interest. When this is done, the transaction and negotiations are done by the realtors. The property can be sold without consulting the banking institution that owns it provided the minimum price has been met.
The increase in the number of REO assets was caused by the financial crisis that occurred some years back. The crisis force thousands of property owners to default on their loans, forcing lenders to initiate foreclosure proceedings. In the aftermath of this crisis, some people were able to reclaim their assets, but the vast majority were not as lucky.
Prospective buyers are in a position to acquire REO homes and commercial real estate at a reduced price. In most cases, these properties can be bought at a discount of up to a fifth of the current market price. However, prices often vary from one city to the next, and the realtor a person chooses to work with will also affect how much they pay.
Buying a real estate owned asset involves the same procedures as buying a typical home. First, there must be advanced approval of a mortgage application. Secondly, a suitable real estate agent is sought. Thirdly, the right property is identified. This is often followed by negotiations where the buyer makes an offer and the broker counters until an agreement is reached.
Since many banks conduct the actual auction at the site of the property, it is recommended that you do a pre-visit to ascertain the condition of what you may want to purchase. You may consider hiring a home inspection professional to do the inspection for you. There is a fee for this service, but it is worth it especially if water damage, serious repairs, mold and other types of structural problems are identified.
There is no fixed price for any kind of second hand good whether it is a piece of machinery or real asset. For this reason, any buyer can acquire property at discounted rates. Having a strong negotiating skill is what is needed to get you the lowest price.
Read more about Bank Owned REO Properties For Sale.