Disadvantages of Buying Foreclosed Homes

There are also factors that make investing in foreclosed homes something to think carefully about before jumping in. When compared to all of the advantages, the disadvantages involved are only a very small factor. This is why investment in foreclosed homes is still popular. Let’s look at some of the disadvantages involved in buying foreclosed homes.

Liens and Liabilities

In some cases, foreclosed homes may have liens in the form of unpaid taxes. Liabilities regarding the property title could also be involved. A clear list of these factors should be given in advanced so that the bidder can bid properly. Buying the home for a high bid and then spending too much on the liens may not be profitable for the buyer.  You should also consider that there will be a large amount of expensive paperwork involved in such liens. These in turn will increase the time before the transfer of ownership can take place.  Lack of research on liens and liabilities associated with a property may end up causing you a large amount of wasted time and money.

Eviction of House Owners

Many of the house owners will try dirty measures to keep their home. Some may refuse to move. This may be due either to their helplessness or their rage towards the lender. After the auction, it is the responsibility of the buyer to evict the owners from the home. This might can turn out to be a tough task. The buyer may not succeed in convincing the house owners through civil talks.  If the previous owner refuses to leave, the new owner will have to begin the legal process to force them out. Again, this can involve a lot of time and money. It is always better to buy a foreclosed home when you know that the previous owners have already moved. This entire problem can be avoided with just a little research before bidding in an auction.

Condition of the property

This is a very important factor because it is where the largest amount of money will be spent. Some of the foreclosed homes will be in good condition and will also be in a good neighborhood.  In these cases, very little will need to be spent on repairs to make it a great investment.  But in many cases, the foreclosed home will have many financial difficulties awaiting the new owner.  These properties will often require large amount of repairs and renovations. It is justifiable only if the buyer has considered these costs when bidding and can afford the repairs.  The condition of the house should never be surprise for the buyer after the purchase. The buyer must have done a thorough study of the home before attending the auction.

Different Buying Procedure

After making the winning bid, you must spend ample time on the paperwork, being sure that it is very clear.  The sale of foreclosed homes does not involve any sort of guarantee, unlike other real estate transactions.  This means that all of the formalities must be clearly met.  A detailed study of all the probable loop holes in the transaction must be made by the bidder to avoid being ending up in a mess. Even though the paperwork is quite expensive,  when the cost is compared to the profit potential involved in the investment in foreclosed homes, it is worth the cost.

Financial terror

Most of the Foreclosure auction demands payment of the amount immediately upon winning the bid. This payment can be met only by investors who have cash on hand or who have other financial credit options. Due to this, only a filtered number of investors have a chance to bid in auctions. In Foreclosure auctions, a person is not allowed to bid above the amount he possesses at the auction as cash or cashier’s check.  An eligible investor will lose his chance to win the auction if the cash is not in hand. This factor also requires research before attending the auction, to find out what percentage of the bid must be paid immediately upon winning the auction.

We can conclude that a Foreclosure Auction requires doing a good amount of research before actually bidding. Normally, doing the proper research will wipe out virtually all of the disadvantages to buying at auction.

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