When a house is purchased by new owners, and they take out a mortgage, the bank that they borrow the money from takes an ownership interest within the property that is pledged as collateral. The document showing this interest is the mortgage or deed of trust, which details the terms of the mortgage, the lien on the home, as well as the amount originally borrowed. If the property owners fall behind, the lender will likely be able to take possession of the residence through the foreclosure procedure.

My son has been a car salesman for years and made a good living. With the economic problems, he has really been hurting! Now he is behind on his mortgage and has received a 7 day letter from his mortgage holder. He has already used up his savings. Is there some gov’t program or intervention that can save his home?

Typically the lenders owning foreclosed properties will provide potential buyers with the ability to view the homes ahead of time because the home, despite it being sold in an as-is condition. This is the case for a home being auctioned off. Working with a real estate agent experienced in foreclosures can be a major asset in making sure you have a thorough inspection. These agents will be skilled in the extensive paperwork process involved with foreclosed homes as well as being able to provide buyers with advice on the pitfalls to watch for.

Deciding to Use an Inspector

A friend of mine told that this was true in Texas where we live. She said that the buy the house from the mortgage holder and lease it back to the home owner with the option to purchase it back typically within a year. She says this allows the home owner to reestablish their credit score. Is this true.