Distressed Properties
- 1. Opportunity Is Knocking Your guide to the ins and outs of finding a good deal in today’s market KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY
- 2. What now? So the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit came to an end on April 30, 2010. Lots of home buyers got to take advantage of it, and for many others, the timing wasn’t right – or they didn’t find just the right home within that time frame. If you’re among them, here’s the good news: it’s still a great time to buy. In fact, as one door closed, several others, along with many windows, opened. The opportunity for a great deal in today’s real estate market is showing up in new ways, namely, short sales, foreclosures and bank-owned properties – collectively known as “distressed properties.” Here is the main thing you need to know about distressed properties: the term refers to the mortgage financing on the home, not the home itself. Distressed properties may well be in perfectly fine shape. But even so, why would anyone seek out a distressed property? Two reasons: Price: Price is the biggest motivating factor. Short sales and bank-owned properties sell for an average of 20 percent below market value, and sometimes much more. 45% of al l Choice: sold homes in th Unit e A recent KW survey revealed that 45 percent of all homes sold e are c d States u in the United States are currently “distressed properties,” “dist rrently resse and an estimated 300,000 foreclosures are entering the prop ertie d market each month. Distressed properties have entered the s” mainstream of real estate transactions. Bank-owned properties and underwater omehe Bec of t mortgages represent a drag on the real estate market. par t lution! so Every time one is purchased, the market moves that much closer to recovery. kw YO U R G U I D E TO T H E I N S A N D O U T S O F F I N D I N G A G O O D D E A L I N TO D AY ’ S M A R K E T 1
- 3. What do I need to know about buying bank-owned or pre-foreclosed property? ? Often, distressed properties are in excellent condition and in very desirable locations. Homeowners in every price bracket are affected by the economy. Financing facts ? Bidding wars happen in some markets, but they mainly occur in the most distressed ones. As in any market, the most competitive offers are most likely to win. FHA loans are ? The key to streamlining the loan process and avoiding surprises popular with first- is to work with an experienced real estate agent and a lender who regularly handles distressed property transactions. time buyers of ? The timeline for short sale transactions is tightening and REO distressed properties transactions tend to occur within a faster time frame than the traditional home-buying process. and represent 55 ? Foreclosures are happening in record numbers and sellers are percent of all first- very motivated. time mortgages. Distressed properties fall into two broad categories: 1. Foreclosures or REOs (real estate owned), which have become the property of the bank due to the homeowner failing to pay the mortgage for several buyers financed hase consecutive months. their REO purc an with an FHA lo 2. Short sales or “pre-foreclosures,” where agents negotiate with banks to accept a sales price and loan payoff that is less than the mortgage amount. Short sales occur in instances where home sellers are “underwater” on their mortgage, which means that the amount of their current mortgage exceeds the market value of the home. buyers financed their short sale purc hase with an FHA lo an kw YO U R G U I D E TO T H E I N S A N D O U T S O F F I N D I N G A G O O D D E A L I N TO D AY ’ S M A R K E T 2
- 4. How does your state rank? Distressed properties account for 45 percent of total home sales when viewed as a national average. California, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Virginia, Georgia and Florida lead the United States in distressed property sales. HI AK MORE 41-50% 31-40% 21-30% 11-20% 10% OR NO THAN 50% LESS RESPONDENTS kw YO U R G U I D E TO T H E I N S A N D O U T S O F F I N D I N G A G O O D D E A L I N TO D AY ’ S M A R K E T 3
- 5. Look who’s buying! The surge in distressed properties entering the market has boosted affordability. In 2009, there was a significant uptick in home sales among first-time buyers. In 2009: 53% 47 percent of all REO purchasers and 52 percent of all short of married sale purchasers were between 18 and 35 years old. couples account for distressed property Marital status of distressed property purchasers: purchases Married couple 53% 57% Single male 17% 11% Single female 13% 15% Married couples account for more than 50 percent of distressed property purchases, but below-market bargains are opening home ownership opportunities to an increasing percentage of single men and women. The word on High points A wise distressed proper ties of home ownership choice Almost all distressed 40 percent of survey The details involved property buyers – 97 respondents indicated with short sales and percent – are looking for that the desire to “stop foreclosures are unique a good deal. And there are paying rent” was a calls for specialized no shortage of deals to be prime motivator in the expertise. Find an found! property home purchase. agent committed to Regardless of the guiding you through the While the average market, a home is a solid process, setting realistic distressed property sold investment. Distressed expectations, and for 20 percent below properties have simply streamlining your path current market value, the lowered the financial to homeownership. discounted purchase price barriers to entry. on short sales and REOs tends to range between 10 and 40 percent. kw YO U R G U I D E TO T H E I N S A N D O U T S O F F I N D I N G A G O O D D E A L I N TO D AY ’ S M A R K E T 4