Government spending is up.  Inflation will follow.  Where should you invest your money today?

CNBC.com reports that real estate is an excellent investment in this economic climate.  Values are down, inventory is high, deals are out there.

Inflation will make your investment appreciate faster!  That coupled with historically low interest rates points to a pretty safe investment.  Real Property, Real Returns – Winterizing Your Portfolio 2009 – Special Report – CNBC.com.

If you are considering an investment property in St. Louis, check out my St. Louis Home Buyer’s Search site.  There you will find everything on the market in the area.

If you’re interested in buying a St. Louis foreclosure property, give me a call and I’ll email you an updated list of available properties.

A short sale can be time consuming and complex

A short sale is the selling of property to avoid foreclosure, the catch being that the property is being sold for less than the amount owed on it.  Short sales are becoming more and more popular in the St. Louis, MO, real estate market. What makes a short sale tricky is that the sale price is not up to the seller, the lender has to agree to the purchase price.  The home owner isn’t walking away with any money at closing in the case of a short sale so he doesn’t care if the home sells for a dollar, the bank’s involvement is to reduce their loss as much as possible and the buyer just wants a bargain.

The basic process of a short sale is:

• Borrower must be in arrears on loan payments
• Borrower or broker contacts lender to discuss the possibility of a short sale
• Potential buyer makes offer, knowing what is owed by borrower/owner of property
• Lender reviews loan and offer
• Borrower has to show/prove financial hardship
• Lender and broker discuss value and condition of property and examine any offers
• Lender makes final call

The short sale process looks easy on paper, follow the steps and the deal is done, short sale completed.  However, in reality the communication between the borrower, lender, Realtor and potential buyer is complex and time consuming.  Simply wanting a short sale won’t make it happen.  Using a CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) eases the pain and insures you better success when trying to complete a short sale.  There are few CDPEs in St. Louis county.  Nolting Real Estate has 2 on staff.  Being in financial stress is not easy on anyone and using an expert will help you get the job accomplished in a more timely manner and help create a successful real estate transaction.

If you’d like more assistance, please call me at 314-267-2636.  And if you’re searching for a home, please check my St. Louis Real Estate Listings resource.

1. Short sales are impossible and never get approved. It is true that short sales are more difficult but they are not impossible. A Certified Distressed Property Expert has extensive training to help homeowners in distress.
2. Banks Don’t Accept Short Sales. In reality, banks are doing whatever they can to avoid a foreclosure.
3. You must be behind on your mortgage to negotiate a short sale. Many lenders today focus on verifiable hardship, monthly cash flow shortfall and insolvency - not just people in default.
4. Buyers Avoid Short Sales. Many agents report that buyers call them looking for short sales. Short sales are becoming synonymous with a “good deal”, specifically with international buyers.
5. Listing your home as a short sale is embarrassing. Recent estimates state that 1 out of 5 homeowners in the U.S. is in this situation. You are not alone!
6. Banks prefer to foreclose. Banks do NOT want to foreclose. Banks, investors and the federal government have all publicly stated that if a person qualifies for a short sale, then the deal needs to be considered.
7. There is not enough time to negotiate a short sale before my foreclosure. Many lenders today will stall a foreclosure up to the final day of the process, with a legitimate contract.

• In this type of transaction there is an additional party involved besides the buyer and the seller; the bank. The bank must approve the sale, and this can make the time to close much longer than usual. Expect it to take anywhere from four to six weeks. And once the bank’s approval is granted, they will expect you to be ready to close as soon as possible.
• You will need to pay for your own inspection, and since the sale is “as-is”, this means that no repairs will be done and there will be no closing cost credits for repairs.  Our favorite St. Louis home inspectors
• You will also need to pay for your own appraisal. The bank will do their own as well, and have been known to reject the sale based on their appraisal. Also, they may ask the buyer to raise their offer before approving the sale.
• These things are obvious risks to the potential buyer, as you could end up out of your inspection costs.
• Deferred maintenance on the home is a potential risk for the buyer. Consider that since the mortgage payments were not being made, it’s highly likely that the homeowner was not able to afford regular home maintenance.

Home prices are down and foreclosure rates are up.  There are definitely bargains out there whether you’re looking for a primary residence or a St. Louis real estate investment!  Are you ready to jump in?

There are foreclosures and there are foreclosures.  While many buyers are looking for the bank-owned home that has gone through foreclosure, some buyers want to buy the homes on the courthouse steps.  These transactions require that you close within days.  This type of purchase will require cash.  You need to set up a line of credit or similar arrangement with your bank well in advance.  

The bank-owned post-foreclosure property will not require the quick closing of the courthouse steps sale.  However, most banks will not entertain offers unless the buyer is preapproved with a reputable lender.  One of my favorite St. Louis lenders is Matt Eversgerd of First Integrity Mortgage Services.

Foreclosures are typically sold as is, but you can inspect the property before you bid. Even after you put down a deposit, you can change your mind and get your money back. Private auctions typically offer a bigger window for deliberation than public auctions on the courthouse steps.

Remember also that many foreclosed properties do not have active utilities.  You may have difficulty getting the full picture on the property.  It’s important to have a good inspector.  click here for a good St. Louis home inspector.

Look…a $100 bill is worth $100 every day of the week.  What matters in a foreclosure is what the house is worth, not what the lender is asking.  Remember that “Foreclosure” does not mean that the house is a good deal.  Do your homework to determine the value of the property IN TODAY’S MARKET.  One of St. Louis best appraisers is Collins Appraisal Services.  Instead of using an appraiser, an experienced Realtor (like me!), can do your homework for you at no charge.  You can fill out our Seller’s St. Louis Property Value request form — just put in the notes that you are looking for an investment property and we’ll treat it the same way.  

Don’t exclude the short sale.  The short sale requires that the buyer, the seller and the lender negotiate the final sales price.  The seller will not be able to cover the balance due on the note.  Foreclosed properties are often poorly maintained — if you don’t pay your bills you probably don’t keep up on maintenance of the property.  But the short sale, in my experience, seems to be generally in better condition.  These are important properties to consider.

In summary, you need four partners to help you buy a foreclosure or short sale:  a good lender, a qualified inspector, a licensed appraiser, and a professional Realtor who is experienced in this type of residential real estate.  

For more information, call Russell Nolting at 314-267-2636.  And you can always visit my website for great information about the St. Louis foreclosure market.