Understanding the Steps of a Bank Foreclosure

ank foreclosure process is a several step processbanks will attempt to sell the property at anywhere
which is activated by a bank which owns a mortgagebetween ten and fifteen percent below market value
that is not being paid on. Typically a bank will takesince the property is considered to be a liability by the
steps to correct the situation prior to beginning thebank.
bank foreclosure process. This is due to the fact thatCan Buying Bank Foreclosure Properties be Profitable
this foreclosure process is quite costly to the bank andThe profit making potential of a bank foreclosure
under most circumstances the bank will end up losingproperty varies widely based on the situation. Typically
money on the resale of the home as well making it aa bank foreclosure process can be bought in any of
huge overall loss to the bank.the three major stages of the entire foreclosure
There are actually three common steps associatedprocess. In the lis pendens stage the property owners
with a bank foreclosure. The first step is when themay be allowed by the bank to perform a short sale.
bank files for lis pendens or suit pending. Essentially thisIn some rare circumstances properties can be picked
stage is when the bank files a formal document withup at or below the market value. It is fairly rare to get
the court system indicating that they have no receiveda great deal in this stage since even if the owners try
a mortgage payment for a period of time. Most banksto sell at a great price the bank will usually decline the
will allow around six months of no payment beforedeal. Auctions on an extremely rare occasion can yield
proceeding with this step.great deals. Unfortunately since most people who end
The second step of the bank foreclosure process isup going into foreclosure fail to make any payments at
when an attorney representing the bank formallyall or only make one or two from the time they bought
requests an auction to be held on the house. The goalthe property the mortgage value is usually equal to or
of this form of auction from the banks perspective isgreater than the actual property value. Buying bank
to hopefully sell the property off for more than whatowned properties in the right market can be extremely
the mortgage is for. The opening bid always belongsprofitable but even these can carry potential pitfalls.
to the bank and it is for the current mortgage amount.Under normal circumstances banks will list these
Under most circumstances no bids will be made on theproperties at 10% to 15% below market value but they
property since in most cases the properties are worthoften require extensive rehab work. In some
less than what is owed on them.extremely weak markets bank owned properties can
The final stage of the bank foreclosure process isbe found which are selling at 30% to 50% below
when the property transfers back to the bank. At thismarket value. At this point these properties can
point the property is known as a bank owned propertybecome great investments.
or real estate owned property. At this point most