subject: Buying Foreclosure Houses For Sale Through An Auction. [print this page] If a bargain is what you are seeking when buying foreclosure houses for sale, foreclosure auctions deserve a closer look. There really is no reason to be wary of foreclosure auctions all that is needed is to take some precautions and you can get to the home you like at the price that is more suited to your budget.
Foreclosure Auction Issues
Let us begin with the big issues, usually the most expensive mistake one can make when purchasing foreclosed homes at auctions is not checking the liens and encumbrances on the property. There may not be any tax or utility liens on a home but you need to double check that there is also no contractor's liens still in effect. Go to the town's civil registry or the city assessor's office with your lawyer and conduct a title search.
If the foreclosure houses for sale in an auction has been empty for a while before the sale you must assume that its condition has deteriorated. Cosmetic damages are not such a big deal, what you should check are the connections for heat, electricity and running water as these are the more expensive ones to set right.
Check the neighborhood for property values, when buying foreclosure houses for sale, you need to get exactly what you pay for. The location to avoid is one with a high number of foreclosure homes. Even at a good bargain, a home in a neighborhood with declining home values can take a while to recover. This means that the value of your home can only go lower with time.
Finally educate yourself on the auction rules that apply. Auction laws differ from state to state meaning the right of the rights of the current property owners may differ as there are some states that allow owners to redeem their homes for a period that may overlap with the date of the auction. Eviction rules may also differ and this can potentially cause unwanted problems along the way.
