Being a buyer’s market, it’s not wonder that Fort Lauderdale foreclosures are some of the most sought-after properties in the city’s real estate market. Unfortunately like any other city or state in the country, these properties are bundled with several risks and pitfalls. For first-time buyers who are interested in buying an affordable property, foreclosures are probably the most enticing. But the risks and responsibilities exponentially increase for them. In order to avoid falling into a swamp of financial disaster, here are some risks and ways in avoiding them.

Wrong agent

The foremost important part of buying Fort Lauderdale foreclosures is the real estate agent. Without one, you’d end up buying a regrettable property or even nothing at all. It’s crucial to choose an agent that is fairly knowledgeable in the city’s real estate market. Furthermore, you have to make sure that the agent will be truly dedicated in helping you find the property you want and have your best interests at heart.

Foreclosure property

The most common mistake buyers make when buying Fort Lauderdale foreclosures is not inspecting the property. Once you receive notification of the list of available properties to be featured on the auction block and chose the one you think is right for you, it’s your duty to visit the property in person. These properties are oftentimes abandoned by their owners and even stripped of vital fixtures. The bank that owns the property doesn’t normally maintain the home and leave it as is since it’s quite costly to maintain and repair abandoned homes.

Make sure that you see the property in person and look at possible red flags. There is a lot of work to be done with foreclosures and successfully buying one is just the half of it. Clearly assess your current financial health and see whether it can withstand the responsibility of repairing and restoring the home for use.

Financing

When you opt to buy the property at an auction, you should know the terms beforehand. There are two scenarios to expect when it comes to buying auctioned homes. First, you are only required to bring a personal or cashier’s check that will indicate your planned bidding amount. Second, the auction or tax entity/bank will require you and other buyers to come up with a percentage of the total value of the property as deposit. If you a preset deposit amount is needed, you must be able to come up with at least 10%; otherwise you’ll not be able to bid.

Pre-approval

Lastly, the importance of getting pre-approved when buying Fort Lauderdale foreclosures cannot be stressed enough. In order to complete the purchase, winning bidders are typically given four to six weeks as grace period. If you already have a pre-approved mortgage, completing the purchase will be easier; if not, you must ensure to respect the grace period and come up with the money otherwise risk forfeiting your deposit.

Mark Michael Ferrer
Fort Lauderdale Foreclosures

Watch the video related to property foreclosure

With real estate down, the number of foreclosed-upon properties growing and buyers looking for deals, are foreclosures a smart purchase? Bloomberg On Demand explores the risks and rewards of the buying at every stage of the foreclosure process.

Help answer the question about property foreclosure

Where do I go to find property tax foreclosure sales?
I just saw John Beck’s Free & Clear system crap and I was wondering where do I go to find property tax foreclosure sales so I can buy a property for pennies on the dollar, pay the back taxes and hold the title to the property. So where are these sales and what do I do first?

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