Boston Massachusetts Foreclosures
Posted In: Uncategorized by adminBoston MA Bank Foreclosures
Boston MA bank owned foreclosures describe property the lender obtains after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. The lender will then resell the real estate by direct sale or market their inventory through a Realtor. Buyers often benefit by purchasing Boston MA foreclosures as the lender’s interest is to dispose of the asset quickly and aggressively price them to reflect market conditions.
When a Boston homeowner defaults on their mortgage, the lender starts the process of obtaining the right to sell that property at auction in order to satisfy the debt (balance owed on the mortgage). In Massachusetts, this process takes a minimum of 75-90 days and if the homeowner contests the process in court or files bankruptcy the delay can be significant. To obtain current bank owned and short sale listings go to Boston MA foreclosures.
Boston Short Sales – Buying at Pre-Foreclosure
There are cases where a Boston Massachusetts homeowner will attempt to sell their home before the bank begins foreclosure proceedings. The homeowner is either already behind on their mortgage payments or will not be able to sell for a price that would cover the mortgage. This is commonly referred to as a short-sale and requires the lender’s approval. Obtaining approval can be a long and difficult process. Additionally, there is no assurance that the lender will accept an offer at or above the listed price or any viable contract presented.
If the Boston homeowner has entered the HAFA program (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative) offered by theUS Treasury Department, the process is streamlined and offers the lender, homeowner and potential buyer additional incentives. Home buyers have a better chance of purchasing the property if a Seller is participating in this program.
MassachusettsForeclosure Law
In Massachusetts, non-judicial foreclosure is the most common method; judicial foreclosure is rarely used in MA. Lenders usually have a power of sale clause and must abide by stringent notice requirements. The bankruptcy court allows sales to be overturned if the amount of the sale was less than the market value of the property. For this reason, MA lenders proceed very carefully in foreclosing on a property, Review Massachusetts Foreclosure law for government legislation about MA foreclosures.
Buying Boston MA Homes at Foreclosure Auction
For most potential buyers, purchasing at a foreclosure auction is a “risky” undertaking and, in most cases, they will opt to purchase from the lender after the auction. As a result, not many Boston MA foreclosure auctions end with the sale of the property. The title reverts back to the financial institution holding the lien. These properties are referred to as REO (Real Estate Owned) or Bank Owned properties.
Boston Bank Owned or Foreclosed Real Estate
After a bank (lender, financial institution) takes possession of a property (after an unsuccessful auction), they mitigate items owed by the prior borrower, such as homeowner association fees. The lender also tries to get the IRS to remove any tax liens against the property. The current owners are usually evicted or provided financial incentives to vacate.The property is cleaned and minor repairs are made to the property. The lender hopes to obtain a higher net sales price with minor improvements.
Banks want to sell foreclosed property quickly because they don’t want to tie up their money in capital reserves. Additionally, managing a foreclosed property may see further reductions in value and is a “headache”. Some banks have experience in managing REOs and foreclosures and often have a department dedicated to them.
Most lenders hire experienced Boston real estate agents to market their properties and list their inventory in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to ensure full market exposure. Buyers have the opportunity to view, investigate and inspect the property prior to final agreement to purchase. Some lenders will negotiate repairs and concessions, but in most cases their preference is to sell “as is” at a “discounted price”.
State and Federal requirements regarding property disclosure must be followed by lenders. They usually state that they have no knowledge of the property and can make no representations as they have never occupied the property. Banks may or may not provide incentive financing on their REOs but in most cases, this would apply only to property that was in very bad condition. A buyer is likely to obtain a better value for properties that need substantial repairs.
Buyers with accepted contracts have the option to conduct full home inspections even though the property is being sold “as is”. If major unknown material defects are found, the lender usually will negotiate to either a substantially lower price or make the repair. Generally, negotiating with a lender is an easier process than negotiating with a homeowner. Lenders are typically unemotional about the process and are interested in making a “good business” decision for their stockholders. It is not in a buyer’s best interest to attempt to renegotiate a contract over trivial items that were disclosed or obvious prior to negotiation of the contract.
A Boston MA bank owned property isn’t always the best value for a consumer. It’s an old myth that “foreclosures” are a bargain.
Making an Offer on a Boston Property
Before submitting an offer, have your agent obtain all available disclosures and information on the property and ask questions such as: Are there any inspection reports? What work has the bank agreed to? Are there required bank addendums?How quickly will the lender respond?How is the offer negotiated?
The negotiating process can be very frustrating for buyers as the typical timelines do not apply and understand that lenders are not available on weekends.
Make sure that your offer contains your “credit” approval which demonstrates your qualifications as a buyer as the lender is more motivated to negotiate with a qualified buyer.
Do not expect lenders to “give away” property as they understand what the property should sell for in the marketplace. As mentioned earlier, properties that need substantial structural and mechanical repairs will sell for less. There are fewer qualified buyers for these properties so lenders will offer greater discounts.
Virtual Homes real estate agents will provide you with a list of Boston MA foreclosures and bank owned real estate for sale. In addition, we can represent you as a Buyer’s agent and represent your interests in the property search, research, negotiations, home inspection and closing of the transaction.