William Grigsby, a retired multinational corp. executive, is now a consultant and writer.
The key to your success in buying property in foreclosure is going to be organization. For this you need to have foreclosure investing software with a database that provides you with all the information that can enable you to locate in your area properties in foreclosure that have large equities. The software should allow you to choose about a dozen candidates, of which you take photographs and enter them into the software.
Your first step is to contact the owners of the properties. Since 9 out of 10 foreclosures are single family residences, most of the owners can be found at the properties. You can reach owners in different ways. The most obvious is the telephone – if it is listed and if it is still connected. But generally, your most efficient methodology will be a letter writing campaign.
Using the data from your foreclosure investing software, you will find that seventy percent or more properties in foreclosure will have equity at some level. You should send letters to all of these people. Further, you will need to send letters repetitiously. Keep in mind that it may take numerous letters before you can attract the attention of an owner in foreclosure. A unique letter will be helpful. This is not as expensive as it sounds. A postage stamp costs less than fifty cents, so you can mail 100 letters for less than fifty dollars. You should have a campaign of sending 200-300 letters per month. Results are virtually guaranteed if you are consistently mailing.
You only need to send letters to the people on your daily list of foreclosures you will get from your foreclosure investing software and you will be successful. Every month, a number of people will contact you asking whether you can assist them. Spending a few hundred dollars per month is well worth it when you can make $25,000 or more for every foreclosure purchased, especially when you consider there is no other overhead.
Experience has shown that a low key approach, whether in person or by mail, is your best course. Your goal is to have a meeting in which you can discuss their problem and how to resolve it. The usual approach is for you to offer a sum of money in addition to paying the existing monthly payments that are overdue. You have to leave a significant profit for yourself, and the best way to explain this is, that if you take over the mortgage, pay the owner money, fix up the property for sale, and wait for it to sell, you have to receive a profit for your efforts and risk. Your ultimate goal of your negotiation, of course, is to pay the owner the smallest amount of money possible for his equity. If can’t make a profit, you must move on to the other properties.
Using your foreclosure investing software, you are able to find properties with equity. However, there is also a way to make money with properties that have no equity. You do this through a “short” sale with the lender, that is, by paying them off at an amount lower than the existing balance. In a hot market in properties this is extremely difficult because the lender has no motivation to reduce the loan. But in a soft market, some lenders may be interested in receiving a lower sum and walking away from the foreclosure.
They would do so because foreclosures usually take about six months, causing lenders significant costs, as well as the fact that lenders have to pay large expenses to fix and sell properties. In a short sale you will also need the cooperation of the buyer and normally he will receive nothing, except relief from the foreclosure. For many this is enough, because of the extreme pressure they have been under.
You shouldn’t even think of prospecting for foreclosure properties, no matter what stage they might be at, without first-class up to date information from reliable foreclosure investing software. You can get a complete, up to date and reliable database of over 1.2 million foreclosures, and much more, with the foreclosure investing software available at: Foreclosure Data.
Foreclosures are up nationwide, and will continue to rise as prices continue to go flat in many markets. For some, the problem is painful. Ask New Century Financial Corporation, the nation’s second largest subprime lender, who recently filed for bankruptcy. Ask the guy down the block from you whose house is in foreclosure.
Foreclosures are up nationwide, and will continue to rise as prices continue to go flat in many markets. For some, the problem is painful. Ask New Century Financial Corporation, the nation’s second largest subprime lender, who recently filed for bankruptcy. Ask the guy down the block from you whose house is in foreclosure.
Some pundits think the rising foreclosures will bankrupt our economy, causing pain for people who lose their business or job as a ripple effect of all these foreclosures. Others think that the rise in foreclosures is a healthy adjustment to the end of a long real estate boom, and is nature’s way of taking care of a free-market economic cycle.
Who’s right? Time will tell, but it’s alarming to see politicians trying to fix this problem. Here are some of their solutions.
Give People Money
Tax the rich, give to the poor. The federal government now wants to fund programs to help people stay in their homes.
Second foreclosure-prevention bill introduced in Senate
A new bill in the Senate proposes giving money to people who can’t pay their loans. We taxpayers are confused. If these people are in trouble because they never should have been given such a loan, why should taxpayer money be used to keep them in their homes that they could not otherwise afford?
Maybe someone in Washington has the answer to that question?
Regulate Foreclosure Investors
I have written extensively about the assault on foreclosure investors that have been initiated by consumer advocate groups, resulting in a tsunami of new “Foreclosure Protection” laws across the country.
A Review of the NCLC’s “Dreams Foreclosed” Report
While protecting innocent homeowners from unethical investors is a good idea, new legislation is not always the answer. Enforcement of existing consumer protection laws and prosecution under existing criminal laws is certainly a better option than creating new laws that limit the options of a seller in foreclosure. The best solution to a foreclosure epidemic is a free market that allows investors to gobble up inventory. By hamstringing investors with complicated, punitive regulations, it will only discourage transactions and result in more properties in lender inventory. More lender inventory forces them to sell at lower prices, which hurts the entire real estate market.
Stop the Foreclosure Process
The Government of the State of Massachusetts just handed the State Banking Division the authority to put up to a two month delay on any lender foreclosure. All a homeowner has to do is file a complaint with that office.
State Orders Foreclosure Delays
It is not year clear on how many lenders this will affect, but certainly this move is troubling. If the government’s action is based on a consumer complaint, what kind of complaint deserves the kind of government involvement that stops a lender from collecting on its debt?
Certainly, any homeowner whose legal rights have been violated under state or federal law can stop or delay a foreclosure with a court order.
Opponents, of course, will argue that since these people in foreclosure can’t afford lawyers, they won’t have the means to seek this remedy. Such is life, that people who are in debt can’t afford lawyers to protect their legal rights. Do people in $1,000,000 homes deserve the same protection as people in $100,000 homes? Do lenders and their shareholders have the right to foreclose and get their collateral back?
And, think about the next logical step… will the government stop allowing landlords to evict if the problem gets bad enough?
Stop the Lenders from Lending
Nobody can seriously deny that lenders got sloppy in how they lent mortgage money over the last 10 years. As a result, many people got into loans they couldn’t pay back, and we now see the consequences.
Conversely, with the exception of gross overreaching by mortgage brokers, it’s hard to deny that most people didn’t understand the risk involved in borrowing money they couldn’t pay back. If you buy a house with no money down and a negative amortizing loan, you are gambling that you will make more money in the future and/or the price of your home will increase. If you are wrong, you lose your home. That’s the gamble. It’s like Vegas, except for one thing – the house doesn’t win when the customer loses. Everybody loses, except the attorneys who get paid to foreclose.
Should the government stop lenders from offering “risky” loans? The answer, I believe, is emphatically “NO”. If lenders go too far, they suffer financially. Thus, the market will take care of itself, in that lenders who lose profits will tighten up loan regulations, and Wall Street will downgrade or reject portfolios of risky loans.
Before you get too excited by this last paragraph, I do believe that some regulation is appropriate to protect the consumers and shareholders from getting duped in the process. Additional disclosures to both homeowners and Wall Street investors are appropriate considering the large number of defaulting subprime loans. However, if people want to borrow money under risky terms and lenders want to lend under a high risk of loss, why should the government stop them? Pawn shops, check-cashing stores and used car lots all operate on a high-level of risk.
Step Up Enforcement of Existing Laws
Instead of stopping the business, I believe the government should throw money at enforcement. Prosecute the bad people and leave the options open for people who want to do business under their own terms. There are enough existing laws that give the state and federal prosecutors plenty of room to go after bad operators, and many of them already have.
The government can put bandaids on it, but only the market can solve it the foreclosure problem. When demand exceeds supply in a given market, prices will go back up, and people will have enough equity to sell their homes. Somehow, I don’t imagine people will learn their lesson and, thus will continue the same cycle in the future. But, most Americans believe it is not the government’s job to stop people from willingly doing stupid things.
When it comes to your financial decisions, be responsible, read the fine print, and remember… “buyer beware”.
Click Here for more info for Foreclosure Problem
Written exclusively for Legalwiz.com by Attorney William Bronchick, Certified Registered Nationally-known attorney, Author, Entrepreneur and Speaker.
Written exclusively for Legalwiz.com by Attorney William Bronchick, Certified Registered Nationally-known attorney, Author, Entrepreneur and Speaker.
Anyone looking for a mortgage can be forgiven for feeling a little bewildered and confused when confronted with the staggering amount of mortgage deals that are available on the market at any one time. If you feel as though finding the right mortgage is a mountainous task that is difficult to start have you ever thought about using a mortgage comparison site to help you in your search?
A mortgage comparison site is by far the best way to take the headache out of finding a mortgage that suits you perfectly. Why go to a broker that is biased and looking for their commission each and every time they close a mortgage deal when you can do it yourself? Not only do you cut out the middleman by using a mortgage comparison site, you also drastically cut down the amount of time spent searching for a mortgage. After all you are the broker when using a mortgage comparison site and you have your best interests in mind all the time.
Using a mortgage comparison site such as Go Direct couldn’t be easier, you are guided through the whole process by firstly filling in an online form. The type of questions asked on this form are:
• The name and date of birth of each applicant (if the application is a joint mortgage).
• The amount you wish to borrow – most people have a rough idea of this and on a mortgage comparison site you can alter the amount you wish to borrow to get an idea of what your repayments will be. Try it and you could be surprised at the amount you could borrow.
• The term of the mortgage – once again most people have a timescale for their mortgage in mind when applying. Bear in mind that the shorter the length the larger the repayments – however the interest you pay will be less than that paid on a longer term mortgage.
• The type of mortgage you would prefer – do you want a repayment, interest only, buy to let, shared ownership or other type of mortgage?
• The employment details of all applicants – these will be checked if you decide to go ahead with a mortgage application.
• Any credit score details you feel are necessary.
By asking these questions the mortgage comparison tool can then build a list of the lenders who may be able to offer you a mortgage. It is essential that you answer these questions truthfully and do not inflate your income as when you do come to apply for a mortgage these details will be scrutinised. The list will show a brief description of the mortgages on offer along with what you could expect to borrow and the projected repayments every month. If any of the mortgages take your eye you simply have to click through onto the lenders website where you can find further details and go ahead with your application if you wish.
Anyone using a mortgage comparison site will be struck once they begin to use it at how easy it is. Each and every step in the process is explained to you on the site and you will find that you cannot progress to the next stage without filling in certain sections so you cannot miss anything out. So if you are looking for the mortgage that is right for you check out Go Direct’s mortgage comparison tool and see how easy it is to compare mortgages for yourself. Soon you will be signing the paperwork for your new home all thanks to Go Direct and their mortgage comparison tool.
If you want to use a mortgage comparison tool look no further than Go Direct. We offer the very best mortgage comparison tool on the internet and have dedicated advisors such as Jason Jones standing by to help you should you need it.
Georgia, with its southern climate and charm, its culture, its great entertainment, golf courses, and oceanside attractions, is one of the most desirable places to live in the United States.
Georgia, with its southern climate and charm, its culture, its great entertainment, golf courses, and oceanside attractions, is one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It is also treasure trove of history; but in spite of its desirability, Georgia foreclosures are occurring at the second highest rate in the entire country.
Great Homes at Bargain Prices
The demand for homes in Georgia may have priced many of them beyond the means of many buyers. But the high rate of Georgia foreclosures does put some Georgia properties within the reach of less affluent buyers, and listings of Georgia foreclosures will let home hunters find attractive homes at attractive prices.
Georgia foreclosures listings present an opportunity for considerable savings to home buyers, and those who know the market and have some good luck can buy Georgia foreclosures at up to a fifty percent discount to market. Even better, there are a wide range of homes in the Georgia foreclosures listings.
Options for Buying Georgia Foreclosures
The available options for purchasing Georgia foreclosures are dependent on who holds title to the property. Government foreclosures in Georgia are available for purchase through bidding. Bank foreclosures can be bought directly through the banks, while some Georgia foreclosures are sold through auctions.
One good source for finding Georgia foreclosures is the Foreclosure Data Bank. It both lists homes in foreclosure and provides information on the best way for you to purchase the foreclosed properties of your choice.
Georgia foreclosures, in recent months, have moved to center stage in the consciousness of America’s educated real estate buyers. The number of homes on the market in Atlanta, in the past half-year, has risen nearly twenty-nine percent, and the Georgia foreclosures rate has nearly doubled in the past year. The glut of unsold homes in the market can lead to terrific bargains for qualified buyers.
One reason for the significantly increased number of Georgia foreclosures may be traced to the wide range of Georgia’s mortgage products. Because some of these products entice people into over extending themselves financially, homes are going to buyers who will soon go into default and lose them to foreclosure.
It is not uncommon for those facing foreclosure to become victims of predatory lenders, foreclosure counselors, and even realtors who will work the situation tot heir own advantage but will invariably cost the homeowners money and in the worst cases, their homes, without doing a thing to eliminate their responsibility for the mortgages on their properties.
Far too many unsophisticated homeowners have fallen prey to unscrupulous business practices as they have fought to save their homes. Any homeowners who think that they e could be facing foreclosure in the near future should talk to the lenders on their properties as soon as possible. They may be able to negotiate lower monthly payments until they are in a better financial condition.
For those interested in purchasing foreclosed properties, information on foreclosed properties is publicly available, and by getting it as early as possible, a buyer can do all the necessary research to make an informed decision about going ahead.








