Why Pre-foreclosures are Preferred with Real Estate Pros

Posted by Marty Allen

May 7, 2009

by Clifford Carr

Most people in the US are aware of the current real estate crisis and the unsettling fact that many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. Before a home is in the process of becoming foreclosed, it is in the pre-foreclosure stage. The pre-foreclosure period can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and is considered by many real estate investors as the absolute best time in which to negotiate the purchase of a home.

Many houses that are ‘for sale by owner’ are houses that are in a period of pre-foreclosure. The lenders sometimes allow the homeowners to try to sell their home before foreclosing it. The banks are not in the real estate business themselves and would rather the owners sell the home instead of (the lenders) having to foreclose it.

Here are several reasons that real estate experts feel it’s a better to purchase a home during the pre-foreclosure period instead of waiting to buy a foreclosed home at a government auction:

- A pre-foreclosed home could actually be cheaper because you are dealing one-on-one with an owner who desperately wants to avoid foreclosure.

- Because you are working with the owner you’ll be able to ask questions about the property you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

- There is usually less competition for a pre-foreclosed home than a auctioned foreclosed home. You won’t have to worry about placing the highest bid.

- More time to evaluate financial scenario then at an auctioned property.

- Many people can become more emotionally driven during bidding and pay more then they had intended to.

- You have time to have a pre-foreclosed home inspected resulting is less risk.

- You will be allowed to make a low down payment on a pre-foreclosed house. This is not the case at a foreclosure auction.

Make sure you bring along an inspector when you check out a pre-foreclosed home. You should also check to make sure there are no past judgement liens or unpaid taxes on the property. The risks in buying a pre-foreclosed home are not that much more then buying a home the traditional way through a real estate company.

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Read reviews on the top pre-foreclosure sites to see what they have to offer at government auctions review or go direct to pre-foreclosures

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