In this challenging economy there are many homes coming available due to foreclosures. As buyer, there may be opportunities to buy in your area as a result. You can purchase homes in foreclosure at different stages in the process. Properties can be bought before the foreclosure procedure is completed, at bank auctions, or homes that don’t sell at auction as REOs. All these types of sales can be complex to complete so be sure to hire an agent who has experience with your particular type of situation.
To avoid foreclosure, sometimes a home owner will accept a buyout on their property for less money than is owed to their lender. This practice is called short selling because the owner is selling their property for an amount short of what is owed on it. Sometimes this happens to avoid foreclosure, though it can also happen in the case of fallen property values. Be aware that short sales can take longer than regular sales to close.