What is the Difference Between a Foreclosure Sale and an REO?

Due to the continuing economic depression, more andregain their losses.
more people are losing their homes. The major reason4. When it comes to the eviction process, in a
for this is mortgage payments delinquency.foreclosure, the sheriff performs the eviction while in a
Homeowners who have suddenly found themselvesreal estate owned property sale, the bank initiates the
out of work or undergoing some financial difficulties areeviction which involves an eviction coordinator.
the ones who are experiencing this crisis. This leads to5. Buyers of a foreclosed property may have several
their properties being subjected to a foreclosure andcompetitions in bidding. The property's deed is given to
later on, to a Real Estate Owned Sale. You might ask,the bidder with the highest bid price. Homebuyers in an
what is the difference between a foreclosure andREO may negotiate the price with the bank or the
Real Estate Owned (REO) sale?mortgage lender. They are also assured that the home
Here are the differences between a Foreclosure andis free of all lines. Plus, buyers can freely move-in
an REO:anytime after sale is made since the home will be
1. A foreclosure is a home that is not yet owned byvacant by the time of the sale.
the bank. Most homeowners attempt to sell theirThe cost of the property for both sales are fairly low
homes through a short sale, selling less than owed andthan in a normal buying process. An REO may have a
seeking forgiveness of unpaid debt from the bank,smoother buying process compared to that of a
while in an REO, the bank already owns the propertyforeclosure.
and is motivated to sell it as soon as possible.If you are wishing to buy a home, it is vital to
2. Homes sold through foreclosure are those that areremember that the main thing that differentiates an
owned by delinquent homeowners. The holder of theforeclosure from an REO, is the responsibility for you
liens of the home has required the assistance of theas a potential homeowner. Buying real estate owned
court to repossess the home in order to terminate theproperties you are assured that the property is clear
borrower's right to redeem. An REO is a home orand free. When a home goes back to the bank or the
property repossessed by the bank or a lender afterlender after it remained unsold in an auction, the lender
an unsuccessful auction. These properties could beor the bank will have to shoulder all the debts, tax liens
free from liens upon successful negotiations with theand other fees and payments connected with the said
bank and other lien holders.property. The best possible way for the bank is to sell
3. Foreclosed home sale is done through bidding init at foreclosure since in a foreclosure, the buyer gets
auction. The officer of the court or the sheriff initiatesthe property as it is, without renovations needed and
the process of bidding. The price initially starts to antakes on the responsibility of all unpaid dues and taxes
amount equal to the borrower's outstanding loan buton the property.
does not exceed the property's market value. RealA foreclosure property may have several risks
estate owned properties are directly sold by the bank.involved. It is better to leave it to professional real
They are expensive compared to a foreclosure sinceestaet investors who know a great deal about
lenders are willing to take all opportunity for them toforeclosure homes and the process involved.