From the category archives:

Debt Reduction

Real estate foreclosure auctions are becoming regular occurrences in most communities, thanks to the real estate plunge and rise in foreclosure.  The current state of the economy may scare some people off, but it will jump back in time. Homes may not be worth as much right now as they were before this downturn, but housing is something that will always be in demand. To many people, real estate holds the value of gold.

Do Your Homework

You need more fortitude than luck when it comes to getting great deals at a real estate foreclosure auction. It’s not wise to go into this thinking you will get rich overnight with little effort. The people most likely to succeed at real estate foreclosure auctions are those who understand it is a long term business and know what they will do with the property if won, even if it is to live in the home themselves.

In order to not become bankrupt in anything having to do with real estate, let alone foreclosure home auctions, you need to really study your market and know your budget limits. If you can make a list of desired features or qualities in the property you want to purchase, you will have a good guide as to which properties you may want to bid on. Your ideal location and price should top this list followed by any extras you would like to have.

Follow Your Gut

Don’t participate in a real estate foreclosure auction just because you feel as if you have to be playing the market every moment of your life. It is often a waiting game until the perfect property comes along. You’ll know it because it will match your written ideal as closely as possible.  It is not smart to jump into various foreclosed home ventures in hopes of selling quick for a big profit. You should expect to keep the property for at least two years.

You cannot trust the word of others in this business, so you have to go on your own gut. Whenever possible, go to the property and look around on your own. Even inspection reports released from the bank or lender cannot always be trusted. You need to hire your own inspector for any property you seriously consider. Going off your own expert report you can decide if you want to bid on the property and how much it is really worth.

It may be tempting to jump in on a lot of real estate foreclosure auctions since they are occurring at such high rates these days, but it is in your own best interest to hold out for the specifically chosen properties going for great deals.

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Introduction to Foreclosure Auction Homebuying

December 29, 2009

Are you wondering if it is actually possible to save a good deal of money on your next home? If real estate investors aren’t landlords, then chances are they have been buying and selling properties they have discovered through real estate foreclosure auctions. Real estate is like stock in that you have to buy low [...]

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Credit Scores and Qualifying for a Home Loan

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Credit score formulas have recently changed affecting the qualification of some borrowers when financing a home purchase or refinacing a mortgage. Here are the main changes:
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I started writing this as a commentary on Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps, but found that 2 critial elements were missing.  Maybe I’m just dense, but it seems to me steps 1 and 2 (which I’ve added) are critical to the plan, and need to be performed before step 3.
Step 1: Develop a budget, and determine [...]

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