For many people the home they purchase will serve as their largest investment. And at the time of this writing, when it comes to homes for sale, the Foreclosure is king. Foreclosure properties are often identical to neighboring properties, only foreclosures tend to be $10-20,000 cheaper. As with all home purchases, buying a foreclosure will come with some costs. Unfortunately for the unprepared buyer, these costs can be much higher than they need to be. Its common for the unprepared buyer to fall victim to at least one of these common and very costly mistakes:
Overpaying for the home they want, or
Losing their dream home to another buyer or,
(worse yet) buying a home that saves them money, but doesn’t meet their needs.
Fortunately with a little thought and preparation you’ll be able to steer clear of these common pitfalls, cut costs, and secure a home that meets your needs. There are 6 very common and costly home buyer pitfalls and I’m going to show you how to avoid them. The six foreclosure buyer pitfalls are:
1. Bidding Blind. I’ve found my dream home, but what should I offer them? Many people have this idea in their head that only suckers pay list price. While this may be true if you’re buying from a private party, you may want to re-think this approach when you’re dealing with foreclosures. Foreclosures are frequently priced below market value, and this often results in multiple offers. When there are multiple offers, there’s usually at least one person willing to pay the asking price. There are times when paying more than the list price can actually be the smart thing to do. But you also don’t want to over pay either. To avoid losing your dream home and to avoid overpaying, you’ll need to do a little research. Certain websites or an experienced Realtor can provide you with a list of recent area home sales. Recent sales of similar homes are what home sellers use to determine what they can sell their property for. They know this number, and often won’t go below it. You too can learn this number, and use it in your decision making process.
2. Buying the Wrong Home. What criteria do you have for your new home? This is a simple question that can create a very complex set of answers. More than one home buyer has purchased a home that isn’t the best fit for their needs. People get caught up in the emotion and excitement and sometimes overlook their more basic needs. Take the time to create a list of your needs and wants, and keep it by your side as you search for a home. Use this list as a yardstick; use it to measure every home you look at.
3. Unclear Title. Make sure early on in the purchasing process that you will own your home free and clear by conducting a title search. Even if it’s customary in your area, not all Foreclosure Sellers will pay for this, so be careful. The last thing you want at the end of a transaction is find out that your new home is subject to encumbrances such easements, leases, undisclosed owners or tax liens.
4. Not Getting Mortgage Preapproval. Getting preapproved is simple, takes just a minute, and costs you nothing. This is one step you wont want to overlook. If you’ve spent any time looking for a home then you already know that Bank Owned Properties, and Government Foreclosure are some of the best deals available. The Sellers of these types of properties will not consider any offer that is delivered to them without a preapproval letter.
5. Contract Misses. The Government and Banks are overloaded with foreclosures right now. One of the things they do to help lighten their load is to kick back any offers containing errors. Miss and initial, or forget to sign in blue ink, and a deal could be lost. To help you navigate this difficult and often tedious process, I suggest hiring a Realtor with foreclosure experience. And since most Buyers Agents will charge you nothing for this service, there really is no reason not to. Even with the help of an experienced agent, its still a good idea to check your purchase agreement for missing initials, or incomplete fields. Remember that multiple offers are common with foreclosures, and an error in a contract can lead to the sellers selecting another offer.
6. Undisclosed Fix-ups. You’re more likely to see this with a foreclosure than you are with other properties. The Sellers of these types of homes were not living in the home, and thus they do not know if repairs were done properly, or if it was done with a permit. Certain areas of repair and remodel require a permit, and inspection. If work has been done in your home without a permit, you could be required to have this work redone with a permit and then inspected. This can be costly, and these homes are sold as-is so these repairs, permits, and inspections would be at your expense. Some jurisdictions can require you to have the work completed before you could even move in. A simple home inspection can help you avoid all of this. If the inspector finds that work has been done, check with the county to see if a permit was recorded. Not all work requires a permit, so be sure to check with your home inspector before you start sifting through public records.
To assure a worry free transaction, take a little time upfront and do a little preparation. Create a list of your wants and needs and research recent home sales. Speak with a lender and get pre-approved. Double check your purchase and sale agreement for errors, perform a title search, and always get a home inspection. Foreclosures can be a little bit more work, but they can also save you tens of thousands of dollars. A Realtor experienced in Foreclosures can help simplify the process and often will not charge you for their services.
Nick Bert is a Real Estate Broker and writer who specializes in helping First Time Buyers and Investors quickly and easily locate the best deals on Snohomish County Foreclosures. You wont want to miss his sought after Edmonds Foreclosures List which features amazing deals on some of the hottest properties in Edmonds, WA.