Government Foreclosures: Getting Started Guide
The United States offers government foreclosures through the Department of Housing and Urban Development in each state. HUD foreclosures are a lot different than real estate deals made in the public sector. VA foreclosures are another type of government foreclosure. This is handled through the Department of Veteran's Affairs.
The Federal Housing Administration is a division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Federal mortgage insurance is administrated through this department. Once foreclosure occurs the mortgage company can file a claim with the FHA to pay off the remaining balance on the loan. This agency pays that loan off and the ownership of the property is transferred to HUD department.
Veteran's Affairs foreclosures are attractive because you don't have to be a veteran to obtain them with preferred loan rates and no money down. All government foreclosures are at market price, with allowances sometimes being made for the state of property. Repairs and improvements will also be included in the sales price.
When you go and see the home you want to buy you should carefully examine it before buying because the houses are sold as is. That means that neither the Department of Veteran Affairs nor the Department of Housing will pay for the repairs of broken things in the home.
Websites that provide a list of HUD foreclosure properties are directly linked through the HUD website for each individual state. When you have found a home on the site that interests you, you click the link that will take you to the appropriate approved real estate agent who can show you the property. HUD uses real estate agents, choosing not to deal directly with those who wish to buy, as their intermediaries. The Veteran's Administration uses the services of Ocwen Loan Servicing for the management and marketing of their properties.
The purchase of a government foreclosure property is different from a standard property sale. Instead of making an offer which is accepted or rejected in a single interaction, you place a bid during the disclosed bidding acceptance period. All offers are reviewed after the bidding period has been closed, and, in most cases, the property will go to the highest bidder.
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Many home foreclosures in the United States are either HUD foreclosures or VA foreclosures. With HUD homes the housing administration turns the property over to HUD for the remainder of the mortgage due. VA homes are foreclosed basically the same way, but it is turned over to the Veteran's Affairs Department. However, you do not have to be a veteran to buy a VA home. Either type can be purchased with no money down and with special loan rates, especially since the government will factor in repair costs. Buying government foreclosures starts with you making a bid, and the home goes to the highest bidder. Good luck!
Published March 6th, 2008
Filed in Law, Real Estate




