The Beginner's Guide to Buying a Foreclosure

By Bambi Turner

Buying a foreclosure is exciting but can also be quite nerve wracking if you are unsure of the laws and procedures governing the selling and buying of foreclosed properties. You must also look at properties at a different angle than if you would if they were regular houses for sale. You will find so many deals and apparently bargain priced homes at foreclosure, but you must always read between the lines as despite the fact that you will be paying less than market value in most cases, you don't want to buy a complete lemon unless you are prepared and have the knowledge and finance to fix it up.

Foreclosed properties are sold as is so you must undertake inspections prior to buying in order to determine if there are any significant problems. A cheap home can quickly turn into an expensive one if you suddenly find that the floor is caving in or the roof is falling apart. As with buying any property, getting inspections done before putting in an offer or placing a bid at auction is highly recommended.

With millions of foreclosed homes on the market, it can be overwhelming to find foreclosure listings that match what you are looking for. One of the best places to start is with local real estate agents who specialize in foreclosure properties. They can show you a variety of foreclosure houses, which will give you a good basic overview of pricing and selection. If you'd prefer to search for foreclosure listings on your own, check out Foreclosure.com. This site contains listings of over two million foreclosed homes for sale all over the country. They constantly update price, photos, and listings to provide the latest information available on a wide variety of foreclosures real estate.

Once you know the price range of the foreclosed properties in your desired area you can start looking at real estate statistics to see what the past and current market value is and therefore predict what the home may be once again worth in future. If you are planning to flip (sell) the house quickly after buying it for a profit, you will want to ensure that the local area has good capital growth potential and that there is room to improve the home at minimal cost.

Buying a foreclosure is a learning experience that will prove to be a very rewarding one provided that you know the rules and laws involved. Learn as much as you can about the process before you begin so you can increase your chances of success. - 23199

About the Author:

Foreclosure houses may be the perfect choice for individuals who think they can't purchase a home. Foreclosure listings also provide a practical investment opportunity for those looking to flip houses. Visit my Foreclosures Real Estate blog to learn the secrets to Buying a Foreclosure !!