Saturday, 16 August 2008

What to Look for in a Community When Buying Pre-Foreclosures

By Julia Clark


It's a tragedy that many people are forfeiting their homes during this sub-prime real estate crisis. It was recently reported that foreclosures account for 50% of the homes currently being sold in the US. Even though many people are losing their homes, there are many others who can finally afford a home or are now investing into real estate and taking advantage of these discounted prices.

If you look at any successful real estate investor, they have accumulated much of their wealth by buying when there was a downturn in the market. Donald Trump is a good example of someone who was buying up real estate real when everyone else was selling as illustrated in the quote. "When I first started out in Manhattan, everyone was saying what a terrible market it was, and if I'd listened to them, I would not be where I am today. There are always opportunities." Donald Trump.

Many of the top real estate investors, including Mr. Trump, now feel that this is currently a good time to invest in real estate by purchasing pre-foreclosed or foreclosed properties.

The great thing about buying a pre-foreclosed home is that you are dealing one-on-one with the owner and have a chance to ask questions and inspect the house. Since the bank has time to evaluate the property there is a higher probability of being granted a mortgage.

There are macro (local community, etc.) and micro aspects to take into consideration when looking for a pre-foreclosed home. Here are the some of the macro aspects:

- Try to find out how many other homes in the neighborhood are in pre-foreclosure or foreclosure. It's best if the home you're interested in is one of the only houses under financial strain. In order for properties to appreciate the number of foreclosures has to be minimal.

- Ask around to find out whether the rent rates in the neighborhood are going up or down. Buying in a neighborhood where demand for rental units is on the increase is important.

- How strong is the economy at the town and county levels? Is the current employment rate growing or stagnating?

- Contact the local government to find out about any upcoming infrastructure plans. Plans such as new building permits, train lines, shopping centers and corporations establishing a local presence, would be a good indication of community growth.

- Demographically if there is a high number of elderly people living in town who are home owners, then there could be an over supply of housing in the future, as they move in with family or nursing homes for care.

If you do your due diligence and find positive answers to these questions when considering a pre-foreclosure then you can feel secure that it is a good community in which to invest. Successful real estate investors buy discounted properties at the right location at the right time.

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