Short Sale vs Foreclosure

Short Sale vs Foreclosure: Buyer Basics

Short sales and foreclosures are both options for buying a home. The hope with these types of loans, when compared to more traditional housing, is that you can find a great deal. However, each of these options presents its own set of benefits for a buyer. They are especially known for being generally lower in cost than the average home on the market. Know the skinny on short sale vs foreclosure homes prior to buying. When you're looking for a deal, it's sometimes easy to get excited before you know everything you need to know in order to make a decision. Take advantage of the window, but don't get ahead of yourself. You can start to understand the two opportunities by looking at the similarities and differences.

Similarities with Short Sale vs Foreclosure

  • Both have alterations to the current or last mortgage agreement. It's important to know what those alterations are and how they will affect the price and value of the home.
  • Both will likely sell for a price less than market value. Find out the original price, why the price was lowered, and what the bottom line will be for you.
  • Both present an opportunity for buyers. These homes are great because of the lower pricing and eagerness of the seller to actually sell.

Differences with Short Sale vs Foreclosure

  • Short sale is voluntary where foreclosure is forced by the lender. This can make a difference in who handles the sale. Short sales will be handled by the homeowner and real estate agent or broker, whereas foreclosures will be handled by a bank, mortgage company, or other lender.
  • Short sale homes are still in the possession of the original owner, where foreclosures belong to the bank. Again, this can affect the overall experience, so find out who you will be working with to see if that will be a good fit for you.
  • Short sales have only a small window of opportunity before the home goes into foreclosure, so it's important to jump at the chance if all looks good.

Latest Posts

The Art of Changing Realtors When You Need to via @homebidz

The Art of Changing Realtors When You Need to

First Time Home Buyers Click Here Finding a realtor can be kind of like dating. There are a ton of them, each with their own set of pros and cons, different areas of expertise, etc. So, when you start forming a...
Loans, Fees, and the Real Cost of Owning Your Home via @homebidz

Loans, Fees, and the Real Cost of Owning Your Home

Need a Home Loan? We know this may come as a shock, but that home that’s for sale for $350,000 will actually end up costing about $575,000 over time. How? Between the interest rates, insurance, property tax, and...
Rent to Own vs. Traditional Mortgages via @homebidz

Rent to Own vs. Traditional Mortgages

Need an FHA Loan? It’s no secret that most people seek out rent-to-own home options over traditional mortgages because of credit issues: either their credit is fair or poor or simply just unestablished. Depending...
Why Does My Credit Matter? via @homebidz

Why Does My Credit Matter?

Click Here to Look at Bad Credit Home Loans Honestly, if you have less than perfect credit, you can still potentially buy under a rent to own option, but you still have to get financing at some point, so you'll need to...
Taking the First Step on Your Rent to Own Journey via @homebidz

Taking the First Step on Your Rent to Own Journey

Looking for Rent to Own? When considering a rent to own journey, there certainly are a couple different choices. Each requires the rental property itself, two authorized documents, and then -- sometimes -- an...
Simple Ways to Save for Your Down Payment via @homebidz

Simple Ways to Save for Your Down Payment

Need Family Support? There are a lot of different ways to purchase a home. You can get creative and try owner-financing, or even buying a home at an auction. For the majority of us though, we’re still using banks and...