Walton MLS

Are you looking to buy or sell a home or real estate in Northwest Florida? We work in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Niceville, DeFuniak Springs, Eglin Air Force Base, Duke Field, South Walton Beaches, and surrounding areas. Give us a call; we can help with it all! Team Sold.

Brandon

Click on my picture to read more about me.

Brandon Jordan, ,
(850) 758-1236
brandon.jordan@northwestfloridarealestateagent.com

Coldwell Banker United Realtors

Crestview Office 2514 S. Ferdon Blvd. Crestview, FL 32536	Fort Walton Beach Office 350 Racetrack Road, Suite A Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547	Destin Office 36008 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Ste 201 Destin, FL 32541
Niceville Office 4504 Hwy 20 E., Ste. A Niceville, FL 32578	Coldwell Banker Commercial Office 4475 Bayou Boulevard Pensacola, FL 32503	Navarre Office 8815 Navarre Pkwy. Navarre, FL 32566
Navarre Beach Office 8499 Gulf Blvd. Navarre Beach, FL 32566	Gulf Breeze Office 3688 Gulf Breeze Parkway Gulf Breeze, FL 32563	Pensacola Office 4475 Bayou Boulevard Pensacola, FL 32503
Pace Office 5561 Woodbine Road Pace, FL 32571	Pensacola Beach Office 22A Via De Luna Drive Pensacola Beach, FL 32561	Santa Rosa Beach Office 43 Cassine Way Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Lynn Haven Office 2112 S. Hwy 77 Lynn Haven, FL 32444	West Panama City Beach Office 22901 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413	East Panama City Beach Office 726 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408
	Panama City Office 702 S. Tyndall Parkway Panama City, FL 32404

Some home buyers look to the foreclosed property market for a bargain deal on a new home. It's not entirely surprising - the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports distressed properties cost, on average, 20 percent less than standard homes for sale. However, those looking to buy a home to live in might find surprising competition from investors looking to purchase a bank-owned property - also called REO - that they will later sell, according to the Wall Street Journal. There are ways for home buyers to stay ahead of the competition and buy a foreclosed home before the investors do.

Hire a real estate agent with REO experience

The top strategy home buyers should keep in mind is how to pick the right real estate agent. Some have more experience than others when it comes to dealing with foreclosed properties, which could give home buyers a leg up on the deal. They can also help identify foreclosed homes that are in better condition than others, helping home buyers find properties that may not need a lot of work beforehand and that may

require less maintenance over time, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Consider government-owned

Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have all adopted measures that favor owner-occupants, also known as regular home buyers, over investors when it comes to the buying and selling of bank-owned homes. According to HUD, only home buyers who are purchasing an REO to use as their primary residence can submit bids for the home in its first 10 days on the market. After that time period, investors can enter the fray. However, that week and a half

advantage can make all the difference for a home buyer, reinforcing the importance of having a real estate agent who's familiar with the process and can act quickly on new REOs.

Handle finances ahead of time

According to HUD, it's advisable to secure a preapproval on a mortgage before shopping for an REO property. The Wall Street Journal also reports having financing prearranged can give home buyers the benefit of time, allowing them to process a REO sale all the more quickly. Investors often pay for REO homes with cash, leaving unprepared home buyers on the outside looking in. While these steps won't guarantee a home buyer won't be outbid for a foreclosed home, it can give them a

good head start on their investor competition.

Brandon Jordan is a member and or certified with the following