Archive for the ‘Foreclosures’ Category
Bank Reposessions Top 100,000 In A Month For The First Time Ever
Posted by admin in Foreclosures on October 14th, 2010
The number of foreclosure filings rose 3 percent in September, according to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac. The term “foreclosure filing” is a catch-all word for housing, comprising default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions.
September marked the 19th straight month that the number of filings topped 300,000, and the first month in which 100,000 repossessions were logged.
As usual, a small number of states dominated the national foreclosure figures, accounting for more than half of all repossessions.
- California : 17% of all repossessions
- Florida : 13% of all repossessions
- Michigan : 7% of all repossessions
- Arizona : 7% of all repossessions
- Texas : 5% of all repossessions
- Georgia : 5% of all repossessions
Thankfully for home sellers, mortgage servicers appear to be metering the pace at these newly bank-owned homes are made available to the public. RealtyTrac notes that, in doing so, servicers prevent “the further erosion of home prices”.
That said, distressed properties still sell at a steep discount.
In the second quarter of 2010, the average sale price of homes in the foreclosure process was 26 percent lower than the average sale price of homes not in the foreclosure process. It’s no surprise, therefore, that, based on RealtyTrac’s preliminary data, 31 percent of all homes sold in September were “distressed”.
There’s lot of good deals out there, in other words, but they come with certain risks.
Buying a foreclosed home is not the same as buying a non-foreclosed home. Specifically, you’re buying from a corporation and not from a “person”. Contracts may vary, and so may terms.
Therefore, St. Paul home buyers — even experienced ones — should talk with a real estate agent before making an offer. It’s important to understand the foreclosure-buying process.
Home Defaults Dropped For The 7th Month In A Row In August
Posted by admin in Foreclosures on September 16th, 2010
According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, the number of foreclosure filings climbed 4 percent in August from the month prior. A foreclosure filing is defined as default notice, scheduled auction, or bank repossession.
Despite the number of filings surpassing 300,000 for the 18th straight month, RealtyTrac’s report shows some bright spots for housing.
- The number of default notices served per month fell for the 7th time this year
- Foreclosure activity in Nevada, the nation’s leading foreclosure state, is down 25% from last August
- Foreclosure activity has not materially increased since early-2009, pointing to a stabilization
In addition, each of the 10 leading metro areas for foreclosures posted year-over-year declines for the second month in a row.
But, perhaps, most important, is that mortgage lenders and servicers appear to be managing their REO more effectively, making properties available for sale at a measured pace as opposed to flooding markets with new homes. As noted by RealtyTrac, the probable reason is “to prevent further erosion of home prices”.
For home sellers, it’s a welcome development.
Foreclosures have had a hand in falling home values in Minnesota and across the country. And, although it’s self-serving for banks to meter the release of homes under ownership, everyday homeowners benefit, too. Fewer homes on the market helps to provide a floor for Minneapolis housing values.
If you have an interest in buying foreclosed homes, be sure to talk with a real estate agent first. The process of buying a home from a bank is different from buying from “a person”. Having the help of a professional should work to your benefit.
