Real Estate Foreclosure Investing and How To Get Started

By Gary Z. Bryant

While many people begin worrying about how many foreclosed houses are appearing on the market during times of recession, smart investors know that these are often the best times to make some serious profits.

What Exactly are Foreclosures?

Banks begin foreclosure proceedings when a home owner falls behind on mortgage payments. When those payments are so far in arrears, the bank begins to take steps to recover the money is it owed by those home owners. If there is no possible way for the home owner to raise enough cash to cover the outstanding debts, then the bank has no other choice but to sell the house used as collateral security.

Why Invest in Foreclosed Properties?

When a lender begins foreclosure proceedings, they aim at recovering the amount of money that is outstanding against the property. This can often mean the property is being sold for a much lower price than the real value of the property. Wise investors could find themselves purchasing properties at only a fraction of their true value with just a little research. Buying an investment property below true market price can mean an instant increase in the amount of available equity you have.

Typically there are three possible opportunities for buying foreclosed homes. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.

Finding Foreclosed Properties

The first option is to try and buy property during pre-foreclosure. Pre-foreclosed properties are homes that are still owned by the home owner. This means the bank hasn't taken possession as yet. The current owners are very motivated to sell the house to get themselves out of trouble, so you could easily pick up a great bargain.

Purchase Through Court Auctions

The second opportunity during a court auction after the property is foreclosed. The disadvantage is pretty obvious. During an auction, depending on the potential value of the property, the price can skyrocket. The advantage is that the property is now free from all debts.

When Property Has Been Acquired By The Lender

The third option is buying after the lender has acquired the property and taken full ownership. Banks aren't in business to buy property. They make their profits by charging interest on money they lend out to people, so its in their interests to sell any property they've acquired. In many cases, they'll happily negotiate with you on the purchase price of the property. This can be one of the simplest ways to purchase real estate at a reasonable price.

Whatever option y ou choose, you should always inspect the property and the associated property and loan documents yourself. This is especially true when you are dealing with the original property owner directly.

In some circles, real estate foreclosure investing is considered one of the most lucrative investments given the low price (sometimes even less than wholesale). This claim is supported further by the current global crisis and its effects on property values. In some parts of the United States, property values can go as low as a few hundred dollars. Many foreign investors have already taken notice of these properties and are going into a buying frenzy.

A wise investor will realize the potential value of buying a foreclosed home at a discounted price to its real market value, especially in light of the recent reduction in real estate values. This can represent a double-benefit to a clever investors portfolio. Not only are you gaining extra equity in the form of higher market value than the original cost, but its also possible to keep your purchase costs low enough so that any rental income derived from the property will easily cover all the associated costs of the mortgage and operating costs of maintaining an investment property. - 23226

About the Author:

Wrong time to invest in real estate?? This is wrong. Ask Gary Z. Bryant. Find more about Real Estate Investing and Real Estate Foreclosure Investing