Home Mortgage Foreclosure

When you have entered the world of real estate investment, either as a full or part time job or opportunity, it is important to have a series of pre foreclosure scripts. Telephone talk outlines and checklists are essential both when you are talking to the homeowner as well as when you are talking to the bank or lender and discussing or negotiating a short sale. These pre foreclosure scripts, telephone talk outlines or checklists should be developed well in advance and reviewed to ensure that you have included everything that you need to cover in the phone conversation. Nothing will irritate either a homeowner or a lender more than having repeated calls from the same investor to keep filling in information missed when there are no pre foreclosure scripts. Telephone talk outlines can be found on the internet or in investment courses, however they can also be developed with a bit of thought and consideration.

To develop your own personalized pre foreclosure scripts, telephone talk outlines or phone checklists consider the following key elements:

? Include a space for the property physical address and location, the name of the current homeowner and the name of the lending company

? Keep a space or blank line where you can write in the loan or foreclosure officers name and direct line phone number. This will help you be able to call them back and address them by name during the conversation.

? Provide a short two to three sentence blurb about yourself and your experience as an investor. Banks and lenders do want to know who they are dealing with and what their current level of knowledge is about the process.

? If you have dealt with a loans officer from the particular lender before, be sure to mention this in your introduction or script. A great idea is to leave blanks in the script, print it out and fill in the blanks with the relevant information before and during the call.

? Provide the information that you may already have on the home including the owners hardship situation, the property’s market value and the price at which you are willing to start negotiations.

? Include a list of questions you may wish to address directly to the lender regarding the short sale process or the documentation required to start the short sale.

Practice your pre foreclosure scripts, telephone talk outlines and checklists to make sure they sound natural and not like you are reading off a page. Keep in mind that you need to be flexible and respond to the person on the other end of the line, not just follow along with the script if they are asking questions or providing further information.

A pre foreclosure list is a tool that can be used to determine what properties in your area or an area you are interested in may be going into foreclosure and be available for purchase. It is important to keep in mind that houses or properties on a pre foreclosure list may not end up in foreclosure, especially if the owner is able to either refinance or work with the lender to set up a repayment plan that will deal with the deficit in the payments.

A home makes it onto a pre foreclosure list in several different ways, depending on the type of financing and the various real estate laws within a state. Typically the lists are developed by the local courts through public notices, which are found through court filings by the lender. In some states where Judicial foreclosures are used, the lender has to file a notice of Lis Pendens with the court, which then hears the complaint of the lender. The homeowner is allows to also present their information, during this process the house or property is considered in pre foreclosure. The lender and borrower may resolve the outstanding debt prior to the court hearing, at which time the house would be removed from the foreclosure list and would not move into foreclosure.

The other option for a foreclosure is called a Non-Judicial Foreclosure, although a legally established process is still followed. The lender will file a Notice of Default as well as notify the homeowner that the house or property is in pre foreclosure. The owner then has a set amount of time to communicate with the lender to attempt to develop a plan to address the default payments. Once the time has passed for the owner to attempt to correct the problem, the lender will sell the property through a public auction.

While a pre foreclosure list does not necessarily mean that the property is going to go to foreclosure, it can be a useful tool in determining what homes or properties may be available for sale during the pre foreclosure period or may come on the market shortly. There are many different websites offering both foreclosure and pre foreclosure list information either on a state by state, county, city or broader area search option. These sites may be free and open to the public or there may be sites that require a paid membership to view the pre foreclosure list area. There are also several agencies that specialize in locating pre foreclosure list information for specific categories of properties that buyers or investors may be interested in purchasing.

With the dramatic decrease in the housing and real estate market properties all over the country are taking a direct hit. In many cases people are looking for options to refinance pre foreclosure ? Virginia and all over the United States as well as in Canada and even in countries outside of North America. Since there are several different options for property refinance pre foreclosure, Virginia options will be very similar to options in other states. Knowing your options and what you can reasonably consider will help in making the right decision.

The last option for any homeowner is to allow their property to go into foreclosure. Not only does this ruin your your credit score, but it can also impact on all areas of your life where your credit score is used. This can include your insurance premiums, your ability to rent or own property as well as even in some employment situations. In addition if you default on a loan and your property goes into foreclosure, it may be very difficult to ever find a lender that will work with you on a home purchase for a workable interest rate for many years into the future. Refinance pre foreclosure, Virginia State or elsewhere, is something that needs to be started as soon as possible to prevent foreclosure.

There are actually several options that many owners may have for going through the process to refinance pre foreclosure. Virginia homeowners may find that they are really struggling to make payments, or may have already missed payments or only provided partial payments. As soon as this happens, contact your lender and try to work out a reduced payment or a partial claim loan, which will allow you to borrow funds at no interest through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The lender is then satisfied and you have a no-interest loan that allows you to stay in your home.

As another option to refinance pre foreclosure, Virginia lenders may also be willing to consider a full loan refinance if the homeowner has built up equity in the home or the value of the property has dramatically increased since the purchase. Even in this declining home market there are some areas of property value increase and some types of home are still doing very well on the market. In these cases the equity in the home can be converted into a line of credit or a home equity loan, helping with the refinancing and loan payment.

Home owners with no equity or those that are upside down in their home, where the market value of the property is less than the mortgage amount, have very few refinancing options. Going directly to the lender and attempting to negotiate a decreased loan payment or extending the loan may be an option in some cases, but consider getting legal representation when entering into these negotiations to avoid paying huge refinancing costs and other fees.

One option for prospective home seekers is to use a pre foreclosure listing to locate properties in specific areas that may be currently on or shortly entering the market. Buying using a pre foreclosure listing can allow the home seeker to contact the current homeowner before the foreclosure is put into place, meaning that the buyer and work directly with the homeowner and the lender. When the property is in foreclosure, the house is then put up for public auction, which can be a riskier proposition for both the buyer and the lender as prices can be significantly lower for the lender or much higher for the buyer depending on the bids on the house.

There are some people that feel that using a pre foreclosure listing service is taking advantage of homeowners that are in financial difficulty. There is no question that there are some companies and investors that do exactly that through misinformation, scams and unscrupulous behavior. However, most people using a pre foreclosure listing are offering a fair market price based on the location, condition of the home and the acceptance of the offer by the homeowner and the lending company if the mortgage is to be assumed. There is no doubt that the homeowners are very motivate to sell and typically the houses in pre foreclosure will sell well below the original purchase price, however typically the market itself is in a downward cycle. In addition the current homeowner, by selling prior to foreclosure, avoids the negative hit to his or her credit score and maintains their good credit record.

There are several different options to using a pre foreclosure listing. The first option is to use a real estate agent that will use the list to screen for homes or properties that meet your basic requirements and price limits. The real estate agent can also contact the owner and set up a meeting to discuss options. The second option is to subscribe to a pre foreclosure listing service on the internet, which gives you access to pre foreclosure properties throughout the United States or just in one particular state or area.

The websites will range in subscription price depending on how extensive the service is. Some sites will provide a lot of information in the pre foreclosure listing while others will only provide a property location and perhaps a general description of the property. If you are shopping for property in a distant location, look for sites that offer pictures, video of the property, contact information and market evaluations and appraisals of the property. While these services will be more expensive to join, they will save you hundreds of dollars in travel expenses and search fees to locate owners and actually see the property.

Although getting notice that your home is in pre foreclosure is very difficult both emotionally and financially for anyone, there are some options that homeowners in difficulty may be able to use. One such option could be one of the many pre foreclosure loans offered through various banks and lenders. Since banks and mortgage companies really don’t want to be stuck with foreclosed homes, pre foreclosure loans makes sense for the lender, plus it can be an effective option for the homeowner as well.

Not all homeowners will be eligible for pre foreclosure loans. From a lenders perspective the homeowner or borrower is only a good investment if he or she has a job and can reasonably afford the loan payment. The good news is that most pre foreclosure loans are fixed rate over 30 to 40 years, which means that even through they are slightly higher in interest rate than a conventional home loan they are stretched out over a much longer period, decreasing the actual monthly cost to the borrower for repayment. Of course this means that the borrower is paying a significantly higher amount in interest over time but early repayment may also be an option.

Pre foreclosure loans, like any type of loan, cannot exceed the appraised value of the property. This will allow lenders to consider the equity that the homeowner may have build up in the property as well as changes in the real estate market. Even though real estate goes through high and low fluctuations, in general real estate values increase over time, so homeowners that have been paying into a home for more than 5-7 years have already built up some equity unless they were on an interest only loan payment. In cases where the buyer actually has negative equity or owes more than the home is worth on the market, pre foreclosure loans are not always an option.

Taking out a pre foreclosure loan also protects the homeowner’s credit score and rating, meaning that he or she can use that number in obtaining the loan. If the homeowner waits until the home goes into foreclosure and tries to borrow for a second home or property, they will likely be denied a loan or have to provide a huge downpayment or pay the highest in interest rates.

The first place to start when looking for pre foreclosure loans is with your current lender. Many people assume that they have to start somewhere else, but keep in mind if your lender understands the hardships that caused your default payments and knows that the situation has been corrected, they are more likely to work with you as you have a history with them. If you lender doesn’t offer pre foreclosure loans, ask for referrals to a lender that does.

When potential buyers are interested in a home that has been listed as a pre foreclosure ? send postcard should be their first thought. Although it may seem impersonal or like a bulk mail out, for a buyer looking a home in pre foreclosure, send postcard, send letter or make a phone call are really the best options rather than an in person visit. While making an in person visit is still a good option, it also may be very intrusive to the homeowner, plus it requires that you travel to the home and simply take the chance of actually finding the owners at home, which can be challenging, especially if you live in a different city or area.

From a listing service, determine which homes are in the area that you are interested in and are currently in pre foreclosure. Send postcards to the homeowners, but try to address the card directly to the current owner, not just with a generic greeting such as “Dear Homeowner”. This little personalization will ensure that the homeowner understands that you have at least taken the effort to look up their name and are not simply mailing out to everyone in the neighborhood or area.

The sample for a pre foreclosure send postcard template can be found on many different real estate investment sites, but typically the format of the postcard will be similar to the example provided below. The general format of the postcard should include:

? A sentence to the homeowner explaining why you are contacting them regarding the purchase of their home.
? An interest in working with the homeowner to avoid foreclosure and the negative affect it will have on their credit score.
? Contact information for you such as an email, business or personal phone number or cell phone number.
? Information about you ? are you a sales agent or marketing company, a listing service or in interested potential private buyer.

The format for the pre foreclosure postcard should not look exactly the same as what other companies or interested buyers are offering. The more personalized and supportive the postcard is, the more likely the homeowner will be to take the time to call you or make contact. For a property you are interested in that is in pre foreclosure, send postcard first, then follow up with either a longer letter or a phone call about a week to two weeks after the original postcard has been sent. If the homeowner is not interested in discussing a possible sale at this time, ask if you can call back in a month, which will give them time to work with the lender and make the decision to short sell the house or refinance.

Understanding pre foreclosure listings is important, especially if you are trying to capitalize on a declining home sale market and what to purchase an outstanding property at a lower than market value price. Pre foreclosure listings, also known as short sale listings, are available for free on many different sites on the internet as well as through private access sites. Keep in mind that all homes on pre foreclosure listings are not for sale, some owners will be able to negotiate with lenders, refinance, or may borrow against other collateral to make up their default payments, bringing the property out of foreclosure.

Pre foreclosure listings are also known as short sales, since the buyer is selling his or her property “short” of the total cost of the mortgage. For example, a home owner with a $200,000 home that is in pre foreclosure may owe $180,000 on the mortgage, but may be willing to sell the home for $160,000 to avoid having a foreclosure on their credit record. This means that the buyer will purchase a $200,000 home for $160, 000 or less, which is well worth the effort to find pre foreclosure listings and contact the owners.

Depending on the type of pre foreclosure listings that are provided by your agent or the website you select, you may be provided with more or less information. The free websites tend to offer the very basic information while the pay per use or subscription type websites can be highly detailed in the information they provide. This information may provide information such as:

? Market value and equity information on the property
? Comparable sales in the area both in foreclosures, pre foreclosures and traditional home sales
? Property reports
? Tax information on the property
? Arial maps of the area as well as pictures of the property
? Phone numbers and contact information for the home seller

Since there are more and more people that are investing in property using the pre foreclosure listings and services, the most up to date and current listings tend to provide the best returns for investors. When deciding if you want to subscribe to a particular pre foreclosure listing service, check to see if they offer a free trial offer that you can become familiar with navigating around the site and locating information in a simple fashion. Many sites are set up to email you the information or to send daily listings that meet your search criteria directly to your email or to your cell phone through a text message.

A pre foreclosure letter is typically from someone or some company that is searching the market for a home or property that matches yours. These letters can be very honest investors or potential homeowners that are trying to buy property, however they can also be from very unscrupulous investors or scam artists that are just as predatory as some of the lending practices that may have lead to your financial problems.

Looking at the pre foreclosure letter with a clear head and not from a position of desperation is essential if you want to sort out the real potential buyers from the potential con artists. It is also important to know your options as a homeowner in pre foreclosure, as not all the information in a letter may be factual or even applicable in your state. Often with large national or even state wide home buying companies the pre foreclosure letter will be generated by a computer, however it may be very cleverly mail merged to make it look like a letter from an individual buyer.

It is important to realize that not all large home buying companies and agents are disreputable or are out to try to buy your house at a way below market value and take advantage of your current financial difficulties. They are, however, trying to get your home at the best possible price, just like any other buyer. As the seller and current owner, you need to do some research on the contents of the pre foreclosure letter as well as realistically look at what is being offered. Typically the pre foreclosure letter that seem to be offering you a fantastic deal really are too good to be true, however talking with the company and asking questions is still a good option.

A realistic pre foreclosure letter will indicate what individual or company is making the offer in a clear and direct fashion. Avoid letters that use statements such as ” I am a representative of an interested investor” or other vague statements. The writer should provide a phone number, not just an email address, where you can make contact. The letter should also clearly indicate if the interested person is an individual or a company.

The pre foreclosure letter should not indicate that you have to pay any type of fee or sign any contract to be able to talk to the writer or the company. These are almost always scams designed to take your application fee without ever planning on making a reasonable offer on the home. In addition be very wary of a pre foreclosure letter that indicates the company or writer will “buy your home no matter what the condition” as this typically means that they will only offer prices that are well below market value.

Sample Hardship Letter. Often when homeowners fall behind on their regular monthly mortgage payments they tend to want to avoid communicating with the lender. In reality, communication is key and using the example of pre foreclosure hardship letter below may be just the tool to help your lender understand your current financial situation and what you need to be able to work with the lender. The sample hardship letter provided below is just a template, you will need to add the specific details to help the lender understand your perspective on the situations that have lend to this point.

Typically when using  pre foreclosure sample hardship letter given below you may have additional issues that have led to the financial problem besides the one provided in the example. These may include:

Death of a spouse or immediate family member
Health problems and medical expenses
High interest rates
Personal tragedy other than the ones listed above

Sample Hardship Letter - Pre Foreclosure

Your name and address

Today’s Date

RE: Loan number

Dear ABC Lender,

My name is Adam Johnson and I have been living in the house I purchased on 823 ample Street, MyTown, USA for approximately eight years. I bought this house with your assistance on June 22, 2002. Until April of this year I have been able to make all scheduled mortgage payments and I would like to explain why I have recently been unable to make the payments, despite my best efforts.

In April  the company that I worked for went out of business, despite assurances earlier in the year that they would not be closing their doors. Rather abruptly in February we were given notice that as of March 1st the company would be no longer able to pay salaries. I immediately began looking for work in my field of expertise, however due to the specialized nature of my training it was very difficult to find employment at the same pay rate. Currently I am working two part time jobs, however my income is less than half of what it was when I was working full time. I have recently applied to two other companies in neighboring areas and am confident that I will be hired by one of the two. In addition my wife has returned to work on a part time basis, which has helped out with the household bills.

We are working with a credit counseling agency. Please find attached a budget sheet showing our income and household expenses, plus a proposed repayment plan for correcting our default payments on the mortgage. (Attach a detailed proposal). Our goal is to repay all payments skipped and make future payments on schedule.

I would be willing to discuss any options with you as we are sincere in wanting to correct this issue and continue to live in our home. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Adam Johnson

Each example of pre foreclosure hardship letter is slightly different, but they key elements should include:

a history of your good payment record,

the reasons the payments have been missed, as well as what you are doing to correct the situation.

While there is little doubt that recent economic conditions have greatly increased the number of homes that are for sale through foreclosure, there are also a growing number of homes that are also in pre foreclosure. Homes in this situation will either be moved into a full foreclosure situation, or will be refinanced by the owner, or may be sold prior to foreclosure. Since in foreclosure the homes are typically auctioned, finding pre foreclosure homes may provide potential buyers and investors a better chance at buying the property without having to risk what prices may end up at a public auction.

While it may not be feasible to keep in touch with all the different courts in the state to find out about the properties listed as pre foreclosure homes, using a pre foreclosure service or a real estate agent that will monitor new homes on the listing within the areas they service is often a great idea. The real estate agent can also inspect the property, at least drive by and take a look at the general appearance, before contacting you as the potential buyer. There are some pre foreclosure homes that may already be vacated while others will be occupied. Typically in most pre foreclosure homes the owners will be attempting to resolve the default payments with the lender, however some may also be very willing to sell out and take a small loss to avoid having a foreclosure on their credit record. In this case it may be well worth your while to talk to the homeowner to try to negotiate a fair price before the foreclosure goes through.

There are also companies that purchase pre foreclosure homes in large numbers. Usually these companies use a variety of options to find the homes including mail outs to large areas, internet advertisements, phone calls to home owners as well as actually making appointments to talk with the home owner. Often these companies will buy pre foreclosure homes at reduced market value and then either sell the house as is or upgrade the interior and possibly the exterior and then put the house on the market at a much higher price.

Individual buyers looking for pre foreclosure homes will be in direct competition with these larger home purchasing companies, however they also may be able to offer a higher price for the home than the company can or will. It is critical for a first time home buyer to understand all their options and expenses when buying a home in pre foreclosure. There can be literally thousands of dollars in additional costs over and above the agreed upon sales price, so working through a real estate agent or real estate attorney that is very familiar with pre foreclosures is highly recommended.