Posted on March 8, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Properties | Leave a Comment
Duration : 0:0:0
Where are Foreclosures Rates Higher?
Posted on March 8, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Properties | 6 Comments
Recent economic conditions have had an impact on foreclosures as well. Even though it has been noticed that the number of foreclosures decreased with a small percent, the trend is still maintained at a high level. Each day, more and more homeowners default on their payments and their properties are being repossessed. Banks and other lending institutions are obliged to file for foreclosures, desiring to recuperate the debt as soon as possible.
Compared to the year of 2007, the number of foreclosures has increased by a worrying number. Homeowners are having a hard time paying their mortgage and they find themselves in the situation of facing pre-foreclosure. Some have lost their jobs and have no way to pay. Others have been in default for some time and they have absolutely no possibilities to pay for their loans. Experts appreciate that even more properties are going to be foreclosed the following year.
There are three states that sit at the top of the list when it comes to foreclosures. We are talking about California, Florida and Michigan. Searching statistics for foreclosures by state, one will quickly notice that California occupies number one. The state has an increasing number of properties under foreclosure, the number having doubled since 2007. The situation is probably just as serious in Florida, the number of foreclosures surpassing the one registered in Michigan. As for the state of Michigan, the recently noticed decrease in foreclosed properties has not managed to erase it from the top three states where foreclosure rate is still as high as ever.
Following closely the three states mentioned above, we find an impressive number of territories affected by foreclosures. States like Texas, Ohio, Colorado and Nevada are deeply affected, ranking among the top list. Should we be worried about the number reported when it comes to foreclosures by state? The answer is obvious. Foreclosures happen in all parts of the country, often surpassing the national average. Some states have seen a decrease in foreclosure activity but the registered percent is still worrying.
California, one of the states where foreclosure rates have hit sky-limit, has seen an increase in the past few weeks. Analyzing foreclosures by state, we notice that the same thing has happened in Michigan where the number of foreclosures has increased with over 20%. As for the cities where foreclosure activity is intense, California and Florida cities occupy most of the places on the top 10 list. More recent data shows that one in ten properties is in default, with an even bigger number when it comes to properties that are already in foreclosure.
We could analyze foreclosure activity and trends by city, state or top ten lists. Searching foreclosures by state, there are numerous states where homeowners default on their payments and are unable to prevent repossession. Some cities have a higher rate, others have managed to keep it at a steady level. One thing is certain: the situation was not as concerning in 2007. As we approach a new year, it becomes clear that we need to take a closer look at foreclosures by state and identify possible solutions!
Jhoana Cooper
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/where-are-foreclosures-rates-higher-699172.html
Traps for the Unwary in Distressed Debt
Posted on March 6, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Properties | Leave a Comment
Distressed debt, including real estate mortgages, are now attractive to many smart investors.
For example, John Paulson, who runs the $36 billion hedge fund firm Paulson & Co, is looking to buy distressed mortgages and distressed debt, despite being bearish on the overall economy, Bloomberg reported. Paulson wrote in a 2009 outlook to investors that he is interested in investing in debt restructurings, bankruptcies, strategic mergers and financial recoveries. Paulson’s opinion is entitled to great weight as he made billions betting the subprime market would crash and was one of the few to get it right.
Economic Outlook Favors Distressed Debt
Distressed investments are good values during bad business times and bad periods in the credit cycle where there is a bad economy, a bear market in stocks and increasing defaults. As we can easily see, distressed assets are now in favor. Conventional knowledge rightly suggests that in a period of economic contraction, debt, rather than equity, is a good investment strategy.
Risks of Distressed Debt
Distressed debt requires considerable expertise. Such debt is subject to serious legal issues, including possible bankruptcy proceedings, that require experience and expertise to successfully navigate.
Traps for the Unwary in Buying Distressed Mortgages
There are also several traps for the unwary in buying distressed mortgages. First, the buyer of a distressed mortgage may want to bring a foreclosure proceeding to take over the house. This inevitably will cost time and money. Depending on the local courts, and the willingness of the homeowner to contest the foreclosure, such proceedings can take as much as a year. During this time, there may be no income on the mortgage while taxes and insurance costs have to be paid. Legal issues, such as the inability to find the mortgage note in mortgages that have been sold into pools, may stall foreclosures. Some mortgage pools were improperly assembled and documented, making foreclosure difficult.
Further, during the foreclosure proceedings, a disgruntled homeowner may actually damage the home to spite the lender. In our market, we have reports of even homeowners of very expensive homes vandalizing homes by doing such things as painting “Screw First National Bank” on the walls and punching holes in them. At the least, the homeowner’s efforts at maintenance and repair will be minimal or nonexistent. The worst-case scenario is when the home is vacant, leaving it open to decay and vandalism. This scenario can give you nightmares.
Adding to the nightmare is the fact that in many communities, the zoning and building code game is designed to help the local established contractors keep market share. In some communities, if the property is deemed to have a need of 40% or more of repair, the property needs to be rebuilt up to current building code standards, in effect allowing you no more than a physical shell that would require almost new construction. Thus, the lender or distressed debt owner has to act as though the property consists of only a piece of land.
Some communities with impact fees may require the lender to pay an impact fee. Many older properties had not paid a fee and the local communities are looking for revenue. They may demand an impact fee be paid before allowing this “substantial rehab” to occur.
Also, many communities have six-month grandfather clauses that provide that if they can show that a non-conforming use has ceased to operate for six months, the community can deny a certificate of occupancy and demand the property be rebuilt up to current standards.
Bulk REO
We see many people chasing bulk REO properties where a bank is selling a pool of single-family homes they have foreclosed on. We believe that banks will tend to sell the worst properties they own in these pools, especially those that may have EPA problems, zoning problems, repair problems, impact fee problems or other problems. The buyer has a limited time to review these properties and may not be aware of the problems he is buying. While real estate is a business where knowledge of the local market is essential, some bulk REO pools contain properties that are spread out over dozens of states, making local market knowledge impossible and management of the property a daunting task.
Better than Distressed Debt
We believe that there is a better strategy than buying distressed real estate debt. Looking at buying the entire distressed home, not just the mortgage, can cause you to see the superiority of this strategy.
This method of buying distressed homes — advertising widely for distressed sellers, offering low prices, selling the homes you buy using lease options at full retail price, giving the buyers time to repair their credit so they can get a mortgage.
We can buy single-family homes at deep discounts that are comparable to the discounts offered by buying distressed mortgages. These large discounts are possible for a number of reasons. In this real estate market, home sellers face a huge imbalance in supply and demand. Home sellers listing their homes could wait as much as a year to sell, during which time the outlook for prices is a decline. Further, with the decline in the availability of mortgage credit, few buyers can get mortgages. Where we are, local lenders are not much interested in making new mortgage loans. Further, the seller has to compete with real estate that is being dumped on the market in foreclosures proceedings and in sales of real estate owned by the mortgage lenders.
When a distressed seller enters this market, the distressed seller needs cash and he needs it fast. Few if any buyers are out there for him. To more his home fast, he needs to sell at a very low price. This is how one can buy the entire home at prices equivalent to the prices being paid for only the debt on the home.
A smart investor who buys the entire home, the equity and the loan, has total control and all of the upside potential, whereas the poor distressed debt buyer has to hang on while the property is in the hands of the owner. The distressed homebuyer has all the equity and can improve the property easily and immediately re-sell or lease it.
Summary
In sum, in terms of return on investment, obtaining an asset that has to be foreclosed at 30% of its face value and praying that the asset is salvageable and serviceable at the end of the perfection/foreclosure cycle may not be cheap enough if the cost of bringing it back up to habitable status is 70% of the value. We believe that the more you study the matter, the more buying distressed homes offers better returns with less risk.
John Lux
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/traps-for-the-unwary-in-distressed-debt-724096.html
Posted on March 5, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Properties | Leave a Comment
Duration : 0:0:0
Posted on March 5, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Real Property | Leave a Comment
Duration : 0:0:0
Posted on March 3, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Properties | Leave a Comment
Duration : 0:0:0
Posted on March 3, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Real Property | Leave a Comment
Duration : 0:0:0
Foreclosed Homes for Sale – a Great Opportunity for Investment
Posted on March 2, 2010
Filed Under Foreclosed Properties | Leave a Comment
A lot of people involve their properties or homes in contracts with mortgage options, however, after a certain period of time, most are unable to make these mortgage payments for various reasons, and the debt keeps on increasing. But the concept of foreclosed homes these days has brought about a feeling of relief, especially for banks, for which this has proved to be the easiest way of recovering loan payments.
A foreclosed home for sale would be one which the bank has repossessed or taken over, because of non-fulfillment of loan payments by its previous owner. One can easily find a foreclosed home listing with banks, websites and real estate agents who regularly advertise about such properties. Buying a foreclosed home is one of the easiest ways to own a property and is beneficial to both investors and home buyers. One can get a foreclosed home from banks at a rate which is up to 15 percent less than its original market value.
The process is quite simple. All one has to do is contact a real estate agent or a bank, or search on websites for a foreclosed home listing depending on the area of preference. Since foreclosed homes are usually available for viewing, banks would immediately agree to show the property to the investor so that he can make a wise choice and have the deal done as fast as possible.
The advantages of a foreclosed home for sale are more as compared top other properties in the market. This is mainly because of the reduction in the costs and also because in investing in such properties, one deals with the banks directly. So negotiations can be made with regard to comfortable mode of payment, low interest rates etc. Also, it saves the buyer from the usual troubles of evicting previous tenants, taxes, repair and renovation etc. Overall, investing in a foreclosed property is a very profitable decision.
Akhila Choudhary
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/foreclosed-homes-for-sale-a-great-opportunity-for-investment-714763.html
Tips on How to Write a Short Sale Hardship Letter
Posted on February 28, 2010
Filed Under free foreclosure property listing | Leave a Comment
A letter of hardship is a statement written by a debtor that main goal is to convince a bank or mortgage institution to agree to a short sale of an asset or property. A short sale is the sale of an asset or property for less than the value of mortgage or loan. This sale is a settlement between the debtor and the financial institution that allows the bank to recoup some financial losses associated with bad or defaulted loans. A short sale also allows the debtor to avoid imminent foreclosure. In order to apply for these short sales, the debtor must convince the banking institution of his or her inability to repay the loan or debt. This statement is often made in a letter of hardship.
When writing a letter of hardship, it is important to remember that the primary point of the letter is to convince the financial institution that the debtor, due to certain issues, is not likely to repay the outstanding loan. If the banking institution is properly convinced that the debtor will default on the outstanding loan or mortgage, then they may decide to agree to a short sale of the property or asset. A letter of hardship should be detailed and personal. It should describe the debtorâs current financial situation, listing current income, other loan obligations, and any potential collateral available. The letter should also attempt to explain why the debtor will likely not be able to repay the loan obligation. Remember that the individuals who will decide whether or not to issue a short sale are human. They will be more likely to issue a short sale if the debtor has incurred unforeseen debt or expenses. This unforeseen debt could be related to a death in the family, personal health problems, or any other reason that has led to the unexpected financial stress. The debtor should be honest in a letter of hardship and stress the exact reasons why he or she has fallen behind on their mortgage or loan payments.
It is estimated that loan officers receive forty to fifty applications for a short sale per a day. Less than one short sale is approved for every ten applied for. Oftentimes, a letter of hardship is what separates an approved short sale application from those applications that are denied. The letter should be truthful and personal. There are many real estate companies that offer to write a letter of hardship as part of a short sale package. While these packages are often very professional and the experience of qualified real estate agents is helpful and reassuring, a letter of hardship should only be written by the debtor. This letter should be short, usually under one page. However, there are no set rules. A compelling letter of hardship can often run two or even three pages. The debtor should try to resist the urge to list a set of excuses for his or her current financial situation. Instead, the debtor should focus on concrete reasons for why they have fallen behind on their mortgage or loan payments. Acceptable reasons for falling behind may include the death of a wage earner, unexpected health costs, or the loss of a job. Try to avoid any mention of any unexpected legal fees associated with a criminal defense or personal lawsuit as a reason for the failure to repay a loan or mortgage. Â
MisUniversity
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/tips-on-how-to-write-a-short-sale-hardship-letter-720417.html
How to Increase the Real Estate Value of Your Property?
Posted on February 28, 2010
Filed Under foreclosure real estate property | 2 Comments
If you invest in real estate you can earn good enough cash and equity. It can be good prospect in terms of short and long-term investments. This mainly includes of investments like real estate investment trusts, real estate mutual funds and homebuilder stocks. The appraisal of real estate property today is a very expensive proposition. This can however prove handy when you sell your real estate investment. This can also add value to your investment when you remodel your dwelling. These renovations give that added impetus for selling your property.
But are real estate appraisals worth it? The answer to this is yes. Since a good analysis of your real estate can fetch you good profit in the near future. This whole procedure can be divided into three distinct parts. The first stage involves purchasing of the property below the current market rate. Then comes the part when you consult an expert in property management for renovation. At this juncture you have to think in terms of capitalization value that should be more than the purchase value. This is an effective plan during selling the real estate property. This evaluation procedure includes the ratio involving the difference between the buying price and the total operating income.
But the increase in the value of real estate investment has its own positive and negative aspects. While on the positive front it is beneficial for people like you who may be from a non-business background, the easy selling of such properties can be useful for purchasing a single family estate. It can also offer tax benefits and act as a long-term break tool. Yet there are some negative factors that can depreciate the value of your property. This investment usually requires hands-on involvement at a good rate. So, when you go for such long-term plans you will face a lot of difficulties in this regard. Well, moreover, time and huge amount of money are two other things that require careful planning with regards to repairs and maintenance.
Go ahead for an immediate real estate appraisal, for the proper evaluation of your property. This will help you quote the right price for your real estate. So, any structural changes implemented in the form of bathroom or kitchen re-modeling will definitely ensure value addition to your existing property.
Jason Sands
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/how-to-increase-the-real-estate-value-of-your-property-712755.html
