Sunday, January 31, 2010

Investment Property Tips - Employ REO Properties

By Eddie "Double Down" Dean

REO properties are repossessed properties that were not sold through a foreclosure auction. They are much cheaper Las Vegas investment property options compared to a brand new home. REO properties are sold through each lender's loss mitigation department. Many lenders present bank owned real estate via their company website. REO properties are great homes for investors to buy because they are generally paying below market for the home, and there is a lot of inventory and selection.

One of the aspects of REO properties is that there is no equity, which means that it cannot be auctioned off. Certain risks are associated with REO properties especially if they are taken in an 'as-is' condition. This type of Las Vegas investment property has generally been taken up as repossessions by lenders when borrowers default on their mortgage payments. Lenders are generally not interested in bearing management costs and holding costs on such property. They just wish to recover as much of the money they have lost on a failed loan as they can. Which is why they are willing to sell off the re-possessed property at rates that are below what the market wants for the property.

REO properties are sent to the bank and generally do not carry a mortgage on them any longer. They are foreclosed in nature, but cannot be sold at an auction. These do not have any disclosure purposes that make them sticky as also the fact that they do not have liability releases too. While these are listed for sale with real estate agents, in most cases the fact that the lender has no clue about the home releases the person from all liability. The recession has hammered away at the prices of these properties and ensured that these are being sold at very reasonable and sometimes unbelievably low rates.

Banks have a responsibility of the upkeep of REO properties and are a drain on the finances of the back. This is one of the main reasons as to why banks are willing to sell them in as 'as-is' condition with the requirement that one thoroughly inspect the property to know the rehabilitation costs. It is true that for every single day that a property lies vacant, the bank has to spend on it, not to mention the opportunity costs involved.

When it comes to REO properties, lenders are not too keen on holding on to it. This is why they immediately list it with local real estate brokers to facilitate a quick sale. Sometimes they also create special packages for buyers who are interested in buying properties in bulk. But given the economic scenario prevalent currently, more often than not, lenders are able to get only a fraction of the value of the property concerned.

Buying an REO property is not a walk in the park as a cheap Las Vegas investment property could very well attract a lot of competition and interest from other investors. There will be quite a few bids and one could also have participation of institutional investors. REO is better than auctions per se, because of the fact that in auctions you have to pay up front in cash and do not get the chance to inspect the property before buying it. In some cases, people can take up loans under the rural housing plan towards these types of properties. In auctions, however, you will be able to ensure that you do not have to deal with the lender, but buy the property directly. - 23217

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