 |
 |
|
Branch County, Michigan Homes For Sale. Find a Wholesale Bank-Owned REO in Branch County, Michigan, MI:
Featured Topic: REOREO listing agents have some degree of influence over the banks asset manager and like to work with investors who have done there research and due diligence. Before making an offer on a REO, have your agent contact the the listing agent and ask the following questions: (1) Are there any inspection reports, (2) What work has the bank agreed to, (3) Is there a special "as is" form, (4) How long does it take the bank to accept an offer, and (5) How does your agent deliver the offer? REO, or Real Estate Owned, is property that failed to sale at a foreclosure auction and is now owned by a bank. There are multiple sources of funding currently available to investors purchasing REO's in Southern California. The majority of recent closed sales in Southern California are REO wholesale purchases. A large number of novice investors are making offers on REO properties without understanding their true market value. The use of weasel clauses in an REO purchase shows a lack of confidence on the buyers part and should be avoided when making REO offers. A short sale is a purchase made from the bank at less than the full owed amount. Many investors get discouraged with this process as it can take many months for the bank to accept or not get accepted at all. Many vacant REOs are subject to code enforcement citations by the local municipality creating an even larger potential liability for the bank that owns the property. Some of the most successful buy and hold investors repair their properties to high standard and rent at sightly below market. This allows them to find and retain renters who have an interest in keeping and maintaining their houses for a long period of time. HomePath Mortgage financing is available from a variety of lenders both local and national. REO buyers should be aware of the following FHA loan qualification guideline: Two Years of steady employment, preferably with same employer. Remember that these guidelines are subject to change at anytime and you should stay abreast of current loan programs. Banks negotiate bulk-rate discounts with title and escrow companies. If you elect to use the bank's title escrow company, check the fees those companies will charge you. Generally, fees not paid by the bank but paid by the buyer will be higher because title and escrow often make up those discounts by charging buyers more. Banks may require a cash REO buyer to show proof of funds. This rules out obtaining a refinance on a residence unless the money is already in the bank. One more disadvantage of Bank Owned homes or REO Properties is you will not know about the past of the property, but this can be reduced by doing some research on property in public records. Nearly two million foreclosure filings were recorded during the first half of the year 2009, according to the market research company RealtyTrac which will create a glut of REOs for years to come. While you may get outbid on a new piece of REO inventory by a first timer, it can be beneficial to evaluate and track the house. If and when it falls out of escrow, you will be poised to make a quick offer and the bank will be in more of a wholesale mood as time goes along. REO tip...When inspecting an REO, check baseboards for discoloration and other evidence of standing water such as peeling floor tiles. Buying a bank-owned or REO property may take an equal amount of time and angst, but the property will be vacant and easier to inspect. In fact, some banks will put a little money into prepping the home for a better sale for them: paint, handyman work, landscaping, etc. Homes are sold without guarantee because the bank has never lived in the home and is selling as-is. Savings of 20% to 30% off the fair market value are absolutely possible, making an REO purchase the best way to buy a property for the first time home buyer or property investor. They give prospective buyers immediate access to the property for inspection. They remove all liens and back taxes. They allow negotiation on all rehab costs, interest, closing points and loan amounts. The purchase is described as 100% risk free and they may allow a less than normal down payment. The bank will also evict the tenants if necessary. So you can see the benefits of of buying REO properties. In today's housing market the glut of foreclosures has created a rare investment opportunity for those who know what they are doing. |
