Foreclosures Heat Up In SC!

Due partially to the fact that the Supreme Court of SC determined at the beginning of the year that lenders MUST PROVE that they tried working a loan modification or deed en lieu with homeowners BEFORE they file for foreclosure, our foreclosure rates have been relatively low since May.

However, lenders have now figured out the necessary steps and paperwork to prove to the courts their efforts, and as a result we are going to see many more foreclosures (that should have happened 6-8 months before) coming our way. RealtyTrac (see map below) shows South Carolina as a one of the "high density" areas for foreclosures.

While this is not good news for the market in...

THE RISKS OF BUYING DISTRESSED HOMES, FORECLOSURES AND REOs!

It seems that every time we meet with new buyers, the first word that comes out of their mouth is “foreclosures”. Buyers have been bombarded with news about the “state of the market” and the amazing buying opportunities that are available to them. Many buyers are not aware that there are three “stages” that a distressed property goes through, and that each of these may present different challenges and opportunities. Here is a summary of these stages:

1.      Stage 1 – Pre-foreclosure

When the homeowners experience a hardship that prevents them from keeping current with their mortgage payments, they normally start exploring re...

DORCHESTER County Leads Foreclosure Rates in SC

RealtyTrac reports that Dorchester County has the dubious honor of leading the state in the percentage of homes in foreclosure proceedings, with one out of 397. By comparison, one out of 419 homes in Berkeley County and one out of 535 homes in Charleston County are in  distress.Unfortunately this means that there may be more "shadow inventory" coming our way as lender-owned properties, placing downward pressure on home prices.

Source:RealtyTrac

 

SAVE BIG on REOs!!

RealtyTrac reported today that Bank-owned home buyers saved an average of 36 percent in 2010:

"More than 500,000 buyers purchased a bank-owned home in 2010, down from 750,000 REO buyers in 2009. But 2010 REO buyers got better deals than 2009 buyers - paying an average sales price that was 36 percent below the average sales price of non-foreclosure properties. That was up from an average discount of 33 percent in 2009 and 28 percent in 2008, and buyers in some states saved more than 50 percent on average in 2010..."

Check out a list of foreclosed & distressed homes

Want to save BIG? Call us today 843-416-1434.

 

 

Why not be foreclosed? Why sell short?

Experienced professionals provide this list of reasons:

Avoid the foreclosure stigma– Homeowners will always have to disclose that they had a foreclosure on any mortgage application and (many job applications) that they submit in the future. This can have an adverse affect on their future mortgage rates. Foreclosure is asked about specifically in credit inquiries. There is no seven-year time limit on this item.  Protect credit score– Credit scores will be lowered by 300-plus points (per loan) by foreclosure. The impact of a short sale—about half that much.  Improve eligibility for a government insured loan– The homeowner will be ineligible for...

Tips for Buying Lender-Owned Properties (REOs)

by Alan Donald, Team Leader, BuyHomesInCharleston.com

Every buyer in this market wants a bargain! And while you may want to hit the jackpot by buying foreclosed properties – those homes that are offered as real estate-owned (REO), lender-owned or corporate-owned properties - it is essential to understand the differences between buying a “regular” listing and buying an REO.

Lenders are not in the business of owning real estate. Once they decide to foreclose on a home and on-sell it, they are looking for:

More Money More Certainty Less Time Minimum Additional Investment

In addition, you should know that:

REOs are normally PRIC...

Are Lender-Owned Properties (REOs) Smart Options for Buyers?

By Alan Donald, BuyHomesInCharleston.com

It seems that one out of three properties in the Charleston Metro Area is either a SHORT SALE or an REO (*)

(*) An REO (Real Estate Owned) is a lender-owned property - a property that has already been through foreclosure and is being offered for sale directly by the lender after taking control of it. 

Normally these properties are offered at very attractive list prices, so many of those properties offer terrific buying opportunities. But, like the old saying says: "Don't judge a book by its cover", there may also be challenges associated with buying REOs. Here is a list of potential p...

SHORT SALE PROGRAM PROPOSED

Yesterday I heard on the radio that the Obama administration is thinking about increasing their support to lenders so that they consider more short sales instead of foreclosures.

However, the program said that what the government has in mind is to provide an "incentive" payment of $1,000 to the primary lienholder, $1,000 to the second lienholder and $1,500 to the homeowner to encourage short sales.

Well, let me tell you: This is NOT going to help much! We are talking about tens (or hundreds) of thousands of shortfall in most cases. In a $300,000 home that was originally sold at $400,000 and financed with an 80/20 mortgage loan combo ("normal" practice to avo...