Monday, April 26, 2010

Some Dangers Of Buying An Arizona Foreclosure Home

By Tom Brooks

Home foreclosure sales are taking place in record numbers and investors are snapping them up. It is important to understand, though, that often these bargains may not be all that they seem. An Arizona foreclosure may be fraught with danger, not matter how good the deal looks. Here are some things to look out for if you're thinking of buying a foreclosure house in AZ.

Arizona is one of the most tempting states in which to look for foreclosure properties. During the boom years, it was one of the states that saw the greatest surge in property values. Consequently, when the axe fell on the real estate market, it was also one that faced the most drastic falls in real estate prices. People had over-reached in financing their homes and now Arizona has more homes being foreclosed than most other states.

Because of the huge numbers of homeowners who got caught in the bust cycle in Arizona, there is a great deal of competition between lending institutions who are trying to recoup their losses. This means that they foreclosure prices they are asking are often very attractive. They are more interested in a fast turnaround than a profit. However, this is also where some of the dangers begin for the potential buyer.

When a property hits the market, the bank is going to want to sell it fast, usually within 24 hours. This means that if you are seriously interested in buying the property, you have to act immediately or it is likely to be gone. If you are in a position to pay the full asking price or even more, you are the one most likely to win the bid. If you need to get financing, you are less likely to win. If you are persistent, though, you still have a good chance of having your bid accepted, though probably not the first one you make. In either case, though, they are dangers involved.

If your bid does win, you may still be in for a disappointing shock. It is important that you remember that these homes are sold on an "As IS" basis. Since you will have had so little time to inspect the home, you may have overlooked some fatal flaws in the construction of maintenance of the dwelling. You still have the opportunity to have your deposit refunded within a certain grace period, but the time and money you have spent in the course of buying and inspecting the house is gone forever.

Even upon first inspection, you will discover that many foreclosure properties are in terrible condition. Angry or indifferent renters may have "trashed" the house, long vacated houses may have had all of their appliances, including fixed appliances, stolen. Of course, this doesn't always happen, but it would be extremely unwise to place a bid on a home that you have never even seen.

If you are looking for financing on the house, you will still be facing the danger of having your loan application turned down if the bank appraiser finds that it is in an unsafe condition. There may be numerous little things or even big things that need to be fixed. Dangling, exposed wires, empty swimming pools and other things can mean you will be unable to get a loan for the property. You need to be aware of these risks.

You can minimize the risks to yourself if you get a qualified, experienced real estate foreclosure expert to help you. Do not underestimate the danger of buying an Arizona foreclosure.

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