Many potential home buyers make the mistake of thinking that foreclosures are only available to investors. That is so not true! Plain and simple, a foreclosure is a property that has been taken back by a lender due to the property owner not making the required monthly payments. The lender is now holding an unprofitable property and they don’t care who takes it off their hands as long as the buyer is financially qualified.

The average buyer can go to the county courthouse auction and bid on properties along with everyone else including investors. The highest bidder wins. The problem with bidding at auction is that you might not have access to the property in order to do a thorough inspection prior to the purchase. On the other hand, foreclosed properties that are not sold at auction are usually turned over to a management company hired by the lender. The management company will then put the property up for sale to be purchased by any qualified buyer. The reason so many investors go after these properties is because they are usually priced below market value and can be a great deal. Please understand the bank is not trying to make a huge profit if any profit at all. They just want to cut their losses caused by no incoming payments and having to maintain the property.

If purchasing a foreclosure seems like a fit for you, make sure you take the same steps needed for any home purchase. Those would include being pre approved for the price of the home, researching the true value of the home, and having a professional inspection done before the deal is finalized. Also take into account how much in extra funds would be required if repairs are needed. A little known fact is that you might find a foreclosure that is move in ready. In any case remember that he property will be sold “as is”.