Arizona Pre-Foreclosures, Foreclosures, and Short Sales

A Realtor that has lived in Phoenix for twenty eight years discusses Arizona Real Estate issues. This article also discusses Real Estate tips that could save you a great deal of money and also discusses pre-foreclosures.

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There is a high inventory of homes on the market in Phoenix, Arizona. Right now may be an excellent time to buy, not such a good time to sell. Sellers and builders are offering wonderful incentives to buyers. It has become slightly more difficult to obtain a home loan due to the high foreclosure rate. Lenders have been tightening their standards due to the high foreclosure rate. This article discusses foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, and short sales. At any time while reading this article, please feel free to click on the website associated with this article to get in contact with a professional Realtor in Arizona to help you with all of your Arizona Real Estate needs.

Whom ever people are making their mortgage payments to are the ones taking the hardest hit when a home goes into foreclosure. When a home is in foreclosure, it means that the home owner has stopped making their house payments. When this happens, the bank is forced to foreclose on the home and re-claim the home. Once they re-claim the home they want to get rid of the home. To get rid of the home, the bank must sell the home at fair market value for the home to have any chance at selling. If the fair market value is less than the amount owed on the home, the bank is going to take a loss because they loaned the home owner more money than the home is currently worth. If the home had any equity at all, the home owner probably would not have had to foreclose because they could have refinanced the home to take money out to pay the mortgage payments.

Lists are distributed to Realtors that are in pre-foreclosure, which means, the people are on these lists are late making their house payment, and have a possibility of going into foreclosure. This is a touchy subject to the people that are making their house payment late. There are multiple reasons why someone would stop making their house payments. Usually, the people that stop making their payments on their home are not doing it by choice, but out of necessity. However, you may be helping someone by an investor or home buyer purchasing a home in pre-foreclosure. If you can not afford the home any more, perhaps someone will purchase the home for you so you do not have to make the payments anymore.

If the home owner that went into foreclosure owes three hundred thousand dollars on a home, and other similar homes in the area are now selling for two hundred and thirty thousand, the bank is going to take a loss. This is a good time to get a home at fair market value, or possibly less. When the bank forecloses on a home, they own the home at this point. The bank acts as the seller, and the buyer and the buyers Realtor are now negotiating on a price with the bank. If no better offers are coming through the door, the bank may take your low offer.

When a property is in pre-foreclosure may be a beneficial time for someone to purchase a home. That is, if the property that is in pre-foreclosure has some equity. If the homes in the area are selling for three hundred thousand dollars, and the person that is in pre-foreclosure owes two hundred and thirty thousand dollars on the home, a good purchase price would be two hundred and thirty thousand dollars, or maybe two hundred and forty thousand. If a similar floor plan just sold in the area for three hundred thousand dollars, then this would be a wonderful buy because you just picked up some equity. Sometimes a Realtor will represent the bank and act on the banks behalf and negotiate a list price for the home. The bank is asking for a Realtor to sell this home at fair market value. This way, the bank can continue banking, the Realtor can try to get the property sold, and the homeowner can possibly get out of their mortgage once the house sells. This is a winning situation for the buyer, the bank, the homeowner, and the Realtors.

However, it is common when the seller owes more than the home is worth, then, the bank will ask the Realtor to price it to sell. When a bank tells a Realtor this in this hypothetical situation, the Realtor will have to price it lower than the surrounding competition in order for the home to sell. This is called a short sale.

A short sale is good for the buyer, better than nothing for the bank, and an act of desperation by the seller. It is good for the seller because they will get out of paying their mortgage payment if the house sells, but generally has a negative effect on the sellers credit rating. A bank will not negotiate with the seller on a short sale unless the seller is not making their house payments. This will have a detrimental effect on the sellers credit rating.

This does not guarantee that market conditions could get worse. Home values may drop any time, so this is a risk a home buyer or investor needs to contemplate. If the interest rates are dropping, and the market seems to be heading upwards, this might be a great investment. There is no way to predict market conditions, what goes up may very well come down. None of the information in this article will guarantee any type of return on your investment. When buying, selling, or leasing property in Arizona, it is imperative that you are properly represented so that you know what you are getting your self into. To get in contact with an honest, experienced, and proven Realtor, please click on the website partnered with this article. Arizona welcomes you.

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View all homes for sale or lease in Arizona through this website, then click property search

By Nicholas McConnell Published: 12/10/2007

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Posted under Foreclosures

It’s happened to almost everyone at one time or another. Unexpected expenses come up and there’s no paycheck left after paying all the regular bills. The answer for many is to obtain a signature or unsecured personal loan. These types of loans are used by many people but especially those with a bad credit history.

Bad credit is something that can be just overspending on your part. This is the typical attitude of many who see people in a tough financial situation. There are many more however where through no fault of their own, there’s been a financial set back like a job loss. Or a child needs to go to the hospital and we all know that insurance, even when it is available doesn’t cover near enough of the cost. Or how about the unexpected bills that show up when we least expect it. These are inconveniences for some but many people especially at the lower income ranges simply don’t have the money cushion available to get through emergencies.

Back to the bad credit loans. Those payday type lending companies charge a heck of a lot of interest. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can afford the monthly payment. This is a common tactic to get you to agree to making those payments. What they don’t explain well however, is that a large proportion of that payment is actually going to interest.

While these loans of last resort may seem like a quick way out of your money problems, they are more likely a trap to keep you in debt longer to those companies. Consider all other options before getting a bad credit loan.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Sell property. If you have things you’ve bought that you don’t need any longer, sell them. Use EBay or a garage sale but get rid of the accumulation of stuff.

2. Work a part time job. Not my favorite but a part time pizza delivery job will get you out of debt much faster than a typical bad credit loan. And remember this possibility is just temporary until you get back on your financial feet.

3. Work out different payment options with your creditors. Mortgage companies do not want to foreclose on your home, and banks don’t want to repossess your car. Bottom line is they want their money and interest. They would much prefer that you contact them directly and work out a payment plan based on your current situation then having you later quit making all payments. Contact your credit card companies and do the same. These people will also work with you. Remember however, that once you agree to something, it’s important that you keep your word and deliver on those promises. This means don’t promise anything you can’t do.

Is your usually payment 100 dollars but you can only afford 50 and you’re behind a couple of months? You should actually call the creditor first instead of having them make the first contact. Still, once on the phone, don’t promise to catch up and make full payments if you cannot afford to do so. It destroys your credibility. Being behind makes you someone with a problem. Promising and not delivering makes you a liar.

There are other strategies that although uncomfortable can be used instead of a bad credit loan. Exhaust all possible options before committing to a loan from a lender of last resort.

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Home Equity Loans - The 3 Deadly Sins of Bad Lenders
 by: Ron Treveli

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You’ve heard of ‘The 7 Deadly Sins’, well here’s a bit of a spin, but the consequences can be severe if you don’t take these into consideration, or keep your eyes open for lenders who could possibly be doing this.

Now, there are other more varied approaches that lenders can take, but I’d like to make you aware of the 3 more common ones.

1. When NOT To Sign Over Your Deed

Ok, here’s the situation, you’re having trouble paying your monthly payments with your current lender. They’ve stepped up the game and have gone as far as to threaten foreclosure on your home.

Worried, and not sure what to do, another lender approaches you, and offers to help you out by refinancing and helping you out in your ‘predicament’. But, because he can help you, he say’s as part of the formality, he needs you to assign your deed over to him, saying something like it will mean that your current lender will not be able to foreclose.

DO NOT DO THIS! Once the lender has your deed, the financing will likely not come through, and you’ll be left in a home you no longer own. The lender can then almost do whatever he wants, and will treat you as a tenant, not as an owner.

2. When NOT To Draw Down On Your Equity

You’re in need of some money… maybe you’ve hit some medical bills that weren’t expected. You’ve successfully built up a considerable amount of equity in your home over the years, and think that you’d like to use that.

A lender approaches you, and says they can do it, but even though you won’t be able to afford the higher monthly payments, they tell you to ‘just bump up your income a little’ to make it get through, then worry about it after.

The problem with this is that you’ll likely lose your home. I’m not kidding, lenders like this don’t care if you can’t make the monthly payments, if you default, then they’ll just take your home and sell it and pocket the difference. Stay CLEAR of these people.

3. The Hidden Balloon Payment Clause

If you’re pressed for payments, and want to refinance, make sure you read the fine print of the contract. A lender might come to you and say that they can reduce your monthly payments and save you from foreclosure. That might be well and good, but in the fine print, you might find something that says that the balance of the principal amount is due at the END of the loan in one lump some payment.

If this is the case, be VERY careful, and don’t do this, you’ll likely face foreclosure anyway at the end of that loan.

I hope that this guide has been helpful for you, and opened your eyes to some possibilities that are out there.

About The Author

Ron Treveli

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. For more quality articles by Ron Treveli on Home Equity Loans be sure to visit www.home-equity-loan-guides.com where i’m constantly adding more content specifically on home equity loans.

This article was posted on September 27, 2005

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Posted under Foreclosures

Owner Financing - Safety Tips
 by: Steve Gillman

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Why offer owner financing when you sell? A higher price, to start with. Add to that a good return on your money, a faster sale, and an easier sale of a “problem property.” Good reasons, but how do you do it safely?

1. Ask for a large downpayment. This is the most obvious way to be safe, but not always possible. The point of owner financing is to help the buyer get the property, and downpayment is one of the areas most buyers need help.

2. Ask for other security. If a buyer wants it with little down, and you like the return you’ll get, make it safe by putting a mortgage on other property that the buyer owns. Agree to release the mortgage when they’ve paid down the balance to a certain level.

3. Credit checks. Ask them to pay for and bring you a credit report. Bad credit might be okay, but type of bad credit is important. An unpaid hospital bill they’re disputing is obviously not as relevant as their unpaid loans.

4. Use your instincts. Are you usually right about people? If so, give some weight to your judgement of your buyer’s character. Personally, I’d trust a man who felt morally obliged to pay his debts over a playboy that happens to have decent income at the moment.

5. Look at the whole picture. Let’s suppose that a bank will loan your buyer 90%, and is okay with you taking back a second mortgage for up to 5%, allowing the buyer to get in with only 5% down. If you’re getting 6% more than you expected by accomodating the buyer’s needs, where’s the potential loss? You’re okay if he never pays, right?

6. Talk to a lawyer. In some areas it may take two years to foreclose on a mortgage through the courts, and only six months to foreclose on a “contract for sale.” Knowing these things can help you structure the deal in the safest way.

Owner financing makes it easier to sell, and to get a higher price. You just have to be safe about it. Let a real estate lawyer review your paperwork, and use the tips here.

About The Author

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, go get your free real estate investing course at: http://www.MakeThatOffer.com.

This article was posted on October 29, 2005

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Posted under Foreclosures