Negotiate Directly with Sellers
As a home buyer, you can negotiate with the sellers directly when you buy a foreclosure home. In fact, real estate investors love to buy the houses even before the foreclosure proceedings are completed.
There are a couple of things to look out for when doing so.
1. Foreclosure proceedings can be quite different in each state. In several states where the houses are on mortgages, the original owners can end up staying put in the property for a year before vacating. As for states where trust deeds are used, the trustee sales only allows the seller to continue staying in the sold home for up to 4 months before he or she needs to move out.
2. There is almost always a redemption period which works against you. The seller is entitled to pay all the foreclosure costs, back interest and missed principal payments and all associated costs to regain control of the foreclosure property. This is why you are advised to consult a real estate lawyer prior to buying a foreclosure home.
3. Quite a number of states require the buyers to give sellers disclosures regarding the equity purchases. As a home buyer, if you fail to provide adequate notices and offers with proper paperwork, you may be liable to fines, law suits and the sale may be revoked.
This approach may sound a bit cold and heartless to some people. It would even seem like you are taking advantage of the seller’s dire situation. There are others who can justify this by simply treating the transaction as a pure business deal between two willing parties.
Buying a Foreclosure Home Directly at the Trustee’s Sale
This requires you to check with the local county office to understand the process behind this approach. Some of the requirements can be said about almost all trustee’s sale such as:
1. No Loan Contingency
2. Financial Status Report
3. Sealed Bidding (this can be frustrating because since it is not open bidding, you could be bidding much lower than the next bidder or too high and NOT know it at all!)
4. Sizeable Earnest Money Deposits. A sizeable earnest money deposit suggests you have the financial strength and assures the seller of your commitment to purchase the property.
5. Purchase Real Estate “As Is”
There could be occasions when buyers are not allowed to inspect the house before making the offer. The trouble is this makes it difficult for you to estimate how much the house are worth, whether it needs repair or if it does, how much is required to improve it to liveable standards.
There have been horrific stories of how the seller has damaged the interior out of frustration. My advice is if you are not allowed to view the house before you buy the foreclosure home, avoid it all together.
But on the overall, if you are willing to do a little bit of research, you can find and buy a foreclosure home of your liking.

