If you are looking for a deal on a home, buying a foreclosure can be a great way to save money. In a price-sensitive market, foreclosures can be the best bet for anyone who wants to buy their own home but doesn’t want to pay full price.

When a home goes into foreclosure, it means the homeowner defaulted on their mortgage payments and had to give up their house to the lender (the mortgage company). The lender then sells the home at auction in an attempt to recoup some losses. This can mean good news for buyers looking for an opportunity to purchase homes at discounted prices. Still, if you take this path, know what you’re getting into.

The biggest advantage of buying a foreclosure is that it gives you access to houses that cost less than comparable properties on the market. This can sometimes be a considerable savings. The bank or lender who owns the home does not have the time or money to perform renovations before placing it back on the market. Therefore, buyers can get a great deal if they are willing to do some work themselves after purchase. These benefits are substantial, but you should always balance the benefits with any potential risks. Let’s look at the risks and downsides of buying a foreclosed home.

A Foreclosed Home May Need Major Repairs And Upgrades: Foreclosed homes may require extensive repairs. Minor repairs are not generally a big issue, but you could shell out big bucks if there is a major structural problem. If the property was abandoned for a period of time, it may have been vandalized or neglected. If that is the case, it could be costly to get it into the shape where you will enjoy living in it. 

Always find out how long the property has been vacant; it could have been months or even years, depending on where it was located during this time period. For example: did it flood? If so, there may be mold damage that needs attention before anyone can move in. Plus, properties may need extensive cleaning in order to be liveable, and that will cost extra money, which reduces profit margins if/when selling later down the road.

As a buyer, you should never assume that the bank will pay for repairs or inspections. Take steps to protect yourself by getting an inspection before buying the property, and make sure sufficient money is in escrow to cover the cost of repairs.

You May Have To Deal With Liens And Back Taxes: If you purchase a foreclosed home, you might find that liens are attached to it. Liens are claims made on a piece of property that need to be satisfied before the title can legally pass from one owner to another. For example, if someone defaults on their mortgage and their lender forecloses on the property, they usually put a lien on the house to ensure payment for any outstanding debt owed by the former owner.

If this is your situation, you will likely have some work ahead of you when buying your new home. There could be additional expenses associated with clearing off these liens so they don’t come back and affect your ownership down the road (or worse yet, cost more money).

You’ll also need to get a survey of the land to ensure it is free and clear of encumbrances. The seller may be required by law to provide this information before selling it, but if not, it’s up to you as a buyer to do this research yourself.

A Foreclosed Home Could Contain Hazardous Materials: Some sellers will leave behind hazardous materials that are not obvious – like lead paint or asbestos insulation – which can make it difficult or impossible for buyers to get financing on these properties. Plus, you don’t know what the house was used for in the past. You don’t know if someone had been living in it or if the house was used to conduct illegal activities, leaving behind potential hazardous items.

In addition, it is possible the seller did not leave the property in good condition before moving out. You will want to hire an appraiser and inspector before making an offer on a foreclosed home so you know exactly what you are buying and how much it will cost to repair.

The Process Of Buying A Foreclosure May Be Slow: Foreclosure sales do not always go smoothly or quickly. If the homeowner stops paying the mortgage, they’ve violated their contract with their lender, who will then take steps to reclaim the property through foreclosure proceedings. This process can take months or even years, and may involve court hearings, foreclosure auctions, and other legal issues that cause delays. You will need to have patience if you’re buying at auction – and patience is something not everyone has when it comes to real estate purchases.

You Could Have Problems Getting The Original Homeowner To Leave The Property: When buying a foreclosed house, you may have to contend with the original homeowner. Foreclosures sometimes drag on for years, and many original homeowners do not want to give up on their houses. They may refuse to leave when asked by their lender or they may even squat on the property. This can be especially problematic if there are multiple co-owners of the property, all of whom might try to claim ownership or squatters’ rights.

The Bottom Line: Before you buy a foreclosed home, it is important to understand the risks involved. Make sure you are prepared for any potential pitfalls and have contingency plans in place should they occur. As long as you prepare for these potential issues, you might just find your dream home at a substantial discount.

When you set out to buy a house, there is an important rule to keep in mind: everything is negotiable. At least that is the case with most sellers. Not only can you negotiate on price, but you can also ask for things like new paint, flooring, appliances, and more. If a seller seems completely unwilling to cooperate, you should consider them the exception, and think about finding another home. When you enter into negotiations to buy a home, it is important to think about negotiating in the following areas to make sure you get the best deal.

Home/Yard Decor: When you look at a house, pay attention to items in the house and out in the yard. Items such as potted plants, curtains, blinds, and yard equipment are all fair game. Buyers often even ask sellers to throw in a piano, a home theater, or a boat — anything they may see in or around the house. You may not get everything you ask for, but if you make a play for it, the seller might agree.

Closing Time-frame: In general, sellers prefer buyers who will want to close quickly. However, if you need a little wiggle room until your mortgage broker approves your financing, extra time is something for which you could negotiate. 

Post-close Occupancy: When a home sells, sellers sometimes work a post-close occupancy agreement into the deal. It allows them to stay on for a short amount of time after the deal closes. It is possible to use the occupancy period as a bargaining chip. Many sellers need a longer post-close occupancy allowance because they are having trouble getting their new home ready to move into. If you are willing to give the seller as much time as they want in the house after the sale, this could give you leverage in lowering the sale price of the home.

Home Warranty: Home inspections and appraisals are intended to protect both the buyer and the seller. However, problems might still slip through, and you may not discover them until you are living in the home. Consider asking the seller to provide a one-year home warranty. A home warranty is one of the most negotiated items in any home deal.

Security System: When people sell their homes, they’ve usually had them for a few years. While they are likely to put in new appliances to make a better impression on potential buyers, older security systems are often overlooked. Outdated security systems could prove to be a future liability. It’s a good idea to request an upgrade to the security system as part of the deal. If the house already has a modern security system in place, negotiate to make sure it stays in place.

Deep Cleaning Services: Don’t assume that the seller will provide a thorough cleaning before they hand it over. At best, you might expect a surface cleaning if you’re lucky. It is important to negotiate a deep cleaning agreement before you agree to buy.

You may not win on every item that you ask for, but most sellers will give serious consideration to reasonable requests. Once you secure a seller’s promise on an item, make sure it is added to the contract. A good real estate agent will help you with these negotiations and ensure follow through prior to close.

Many a fortune has been made in real estate, and there is something deeply satisfying about owning property and collecting rent from your tenants. If you are itching to get started in the lucrative field of real estate, you might want to start with raw land instead of those costly developed properties.

Many factors make raw land the perfect entry point into the world of real estate and a great building block for your future real estate empire. Here are five reasons why buying raw land is the perfect first step into the wild world of real estate.

1. You’ll Get to Know the Local Market

It has often been said but definitely bears repeating – at the end of the day, all real estate is local, and every would-be investor needs to know their local market. Buying raw land is a great way to get to know the local real estate market, and with a much lower level of risk.

Whether you are buying rural land in the middle of nowhere or a corner lot in the middle of the city, you will get to know the nature of the area, and all the information you gather could prove valuable in the future. Even if your ultimate goal is to purchase single-family houses or apartment buildings, starting with a raw land investment could be a solid first step.

2. The Upfront Costs Are Far Lower

Investing in real estate can be a great way to make money and earn a solid income, but getting started is often quite costly. If you plan to start your real estate empire with homes, apartment buildings, or commercial properties, you likely will need a cash infusion. Yet, getting a loan is not easy when you lack experience in the field of real estate.

Compared to those other forms of real estate, vacant land can be a huge bargain. You may be able to buy an acre of rural land or an undeveloped lot from your own savings, giving you a chance to learn about real estate without putting up collateral or paying interest to a lender.

3. You Can Earn Income in the Meantime

Many would-be real estate investors believe that raw land is not a good earning opportunity, but that is not necessarily the case. While the vacant lot you buy may not earn you an income right away, a potential earning opportunity is just waiting to be tapped.

That vacant lot in the middle of the city could earn you a serious income when you paint some lines and turn it into a parking lot. If you own a plot of rural acreage, you could earn rent from local farmers anxious to plant their crops or graze their cattle and reap a profitable harvest. There are plenty of ways to earn money with vacant land, all while you wait for that undeveloped property to go up in value.

4. Carrying Costs Are Generally Quite Low

Owning an apartment building or single-family home might earn income when you have tenants, but you are left with the carrying costs even when the units are sitting vacant. Property taxes, upkeep, and other costs can add up, making real estate ownership more costly than you realized.

It generally costs much less to own vacant land, making raw land investment an even better bargain and an even smarter way to get started. Taxes are generally quite low on undeveloped land, and other than the occasional mowing, that land should not cost you much more.

5. Appreciation Potential Is Often Very High

Last but not least, the appreciation potential for vacant land can be extremely high, certainly higher than many homes and commercial buildings. If a developer comes along and wants to build on your land, you could see your initial investment double or even triple, and that is just one example.

When you invest in vacant land, you are by definition purchasing a product that gets scarcer and scarcer with each new development. Builders can always erect new houses, but no one can make additional land.

If you are anxious to get started as a real estate investor, you might think that buying a home or apartment building is the best way to go about it. After all, those are the types of properties most people think of when it comes to real estate. But there is much more to the process. Starting your real estate empire with vacant lots and undeveloped rural land has its advantages, beginning with the five benefits listed above.

Whether you are moving into your first home or moving on to your dream home, shopping during the cold winter months can be a daunting experience. From traversing snow-clogged roads to checking out the landscaping in subzero temperatures, there are lots of things to dread about buying a home in the winter.

And while that may be true, there are plenty of reasons to love the season as well. If you are ready to buy a home, you just might find winter to be the perfect time. Here are eight great reasons to buy your next home in the winter. 

1. Less competition – The fact that winter is an unpopular time to buy a home can work in your favor. With less competition, you can drive a harder bargain, making your first-time buyer dollars stretch farther. 
2. More time with your real estate agent – Real estate agents tend to be less busy in the cold winter months, and that could mean more time with your agent. You can use that time to lay out your requirements, making finding the perfect home easier. 
3. Cheaper moves – Moving companies also tend to be less in demand during the winter, and that could mean a less expensive move when the time comes. 
4. Holiday sales on home décor – The holiday season is a great time to buy home décor and furniture, especially if you are shopping for your first home. Reducing the cost of home furnishings will be even more important now that you have a monthly mortgage payment to make. 
5. Motivated sellers – Homeowners with properties to sell may be more motivated as the cold weather months drag on, and that could be good news for you as a first-time buyer. 
6. Vital information on road maintenance – Some neighborhoods are better at clearing ice and snow than others, and shopping in the winter can be a very enlightening experience. When you need to get to work, you want to know local road crews are up to the task. 
7. Faster closing times – Time-to-closing tends to be faster in the winter, simply because there are fewer buyers competing for those limited resources. If you need to move fast, winter could be the perfect time to shop. 
8. An inside look at hidden damage – Some problems, like clogged gutters or leaking roofs, may be easier to spot when there is ice and snow on the ground. The ability to uncover that hidden damage could net you a lower price – or stop you from making a costly mistake. 

Buying a home during the winter months can be challenging, but there is a lot to love about this time of year. From enhanced bargaining power to more motivated sellers, buying a home in the cold winter months has its perks, including the eight big benefits outlined above.