REO properties make great investments, but financing the purchase can be a challenge. Fix and Flip Loans in Arizona work especially well for REO purchases because they eliminate barriers.

As you search through property listings, chances are you’ll see the term “REO” quite a bit. It appears on listings for both investment properties and consumer properties, and references that the home is “real estate owned.” In short, the bank owns it, not a person.

Properties become known as REOs when the homeowner defaults on the mortgage and a foreclosure occurs. People wind up in foreclosure for many reasons, and the banks don’t like to take homes away from people, so the homeowner gets a chance to make things right during a pre-foreclosure process. During this phase, the homeowner can either get his mortgage caught back up or sell the property. Banks will even sometimes allow the homeowner to sell the property for less than they owe on their mortgage just to be done with the whole thing. If the homeowner does nothing, then the property will go to auction. Many investors use Fix and Flip Loans in Arizona at auctions as well, purely because they’re usually cash-only, meaning the buyer can’t try to apply for a mortgage after. He has to be able to pay for the purchase right away. If a property doesn’t sell at auction, then the bank takes ownership of it and it becomes known as a REO.

Naturally, banks aren’t in the home-selling business, so it’s their goal to unload the property as quickly as possible. Additionally, REO properties tend to be in disrepair, simply because the initial mortgage-holder is often unable to handle maintenance on the property for some time prior to defaulting on the mortgage. The foreclosure process takes months to complete too, increasing the timeline proper care hasn’t been given to the home. Because of these things, REOs can often be purchased fairly inexpensively.

One of the Pitfalls of REO Properties is that Banks Financing May Be Out

Regardless of whether you’re an investor or an average person looking for a new home, the banks may turn up their noses at your REO property. This usually happens when it’s in ill repair, but things like your credit and whether or not you plan to live in the home matter too. That doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t purchase the REO, particularly if you’re getting a screaming deal on it, only that Fix and Flip Loans in Arizona may be better-suited to the job than a conventional mortgage.

Hard money can get you into a REO when the banks won’t.

Hard money Fix and Flip Loans in Arizona work differently than mortgages. You’ll typically take the money out for a short period of time; such as a few months or a couple of years. During that time, you’ll make interest-only payments and then pay off the balance at the end of your term. Things like the condition of the property and your credit are less of a concern, but you’ll need to have detailed plans for how you’ll repair the REO and know when/ how you’ll pay off the balance. If you plan to live in the home and the initial condition of it prevented you from getting a traditional mortgage, you should be able to qualify once the repairs are complete. If you’re a rehabber who likes to repair and sell, you’d pay off the balance as soon as the property is sold. In other words, don’t let the term “REO” scare you away from a property. Instead, research it well and explore alternative lending with a broker. You just might find you’re getting the deal of your dreams.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC
Hard Money Lender
Hard Money Loans
Hard Money Loan
Arizona Tel: (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel: (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com
Dennis Dahlberg Broker/RI/CEO

NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave | Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author: Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 43 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters and 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

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