Short Sale and Foreclosed Homes

During your home search, you may come across a home that is up for short sale or is foreclosed. Prices of these homes may be lower than others for sale nearby, and that may pique your interest.

When a home is up for short sale, the seller is working with a lender. This could be because the seller is facing a hardship or owes more on the mortgage than the home is worth. With foreclosure, the lender owns the home and no one is living in it.

What’s different

Buying a home in short sale or foreclosure is similar to buying a traditional home, but there are differences:

• Sales can take months to complete. Foreclosures tend to be a little faster than short sales, but in both cases, the lender has to approve the sale. Short sales can get complicated and lengthy if there is more than one mortgage on the property.
• Your real estate agent will send the offer to the lender for approval instead of the seller’s agent. The lender could also make a counteroffer.
• You’re buying the property 'as-is'. You’ll have to pay for any needed repairs. And you can’t negotiate for a lower price based on the repairs.

Once an agreement is in place, the standard sale and closing process will occur.

If you want to buy a short sale or foreclosed home, make sure you have money to cover all closing costs and for any immediate repairs. You should also look at being prequalified for a mortgage so you’ll be ready to proceed with your loan when the sale is getting close. Talk with your real estate agent if you’re interested in purchasing a short sale or foreclosed home.