All About Bank Owned REO Properties

By Sherry Gross


It is common knowledge now that when property owners fail to service their mortgages, foreclosure proceedings are initiated and the bank repossesses the property. There are basically two types of foreclosure proceedings: judicial - where the courts are involved; and non-judicial where the courts are not involved in any way. Bank owned REO properties can arise from either of these proceedings depending on what the property owner does.

During foreclosure proceedings, the property owner has the legal right to reclaim the asset at whatever stage. Failure to do this leads to transfer of ownership to the bank. Any real estate property that is owned by a financial institution is commonly referred to as REO (Real Estate Owned) property, and it can be disposed of at the sole discretion of the bank.

Usually, banks hire real estate brokers to help them handle transactions involving repossessed assets. There are many property listings on the Internet where prospective buyers can check out these assets and express their interest. Real estate agents are the ones who handle the whole transaction.

Over the last five or so years, the number of REO's has increased significantly due to the housing crisis that occurred a few years ago. Many people defaulted on their mortgages forcing banks to repossess their homes and commercial real estate holdings. While some individuals were able to reclaim their assets, others did not have the financial muscle.

Prospective buyers are in a position to acquire REO homes and commercial real estate at a reduced price. In most cases, these properties can be bought at a discount of up to a fifth of the current market price. However, prices often vary from one city to the next, and the realtor a person chooses to work with will also affect how much they pay.

Buying a real estate owned asset involves the same procedures as buying a typical home. First, there must be advanced approval of a mortgage application. Secondly, a suitable real estate agent is sought. Thirdly, the right property is identified. This is often followed by negotiations where the buyer makes an offer and the broker counters until an agreement is reached.

Most banks usually sell their REO's on as is where is basis, so it is important that you inspect the building before making an offer. You can do this on your own, but you may want to consider hiring a professional housing inspector to do the job for you. This may cost you some money now, but it can save you thousands in the long run.

There is no fixed price for any kind of second hand good whether it is a piece of machinery or real asset. For this reason, any buyer can acquire property at discounted rates. Having a strong negotiating skill is what is needed to get you the lowest price.




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