Owning bank foreclosure properties is a simple process which anyone can undertake without the help of agents or brokers. There are real deals to be made in buying one of these distressed properties as long as the buyer approaches the entire affair with diligence and caution.

The process for buying bank foreclosure properties begins with research. The best place to start is the Internet where there are multitudes of web sites providing listings and information on foreclosures. There are free sites that offer country-wide listings but they are highly susceptible to inaccuracies. Your best bet would be the web sites that charge for subscription. For a small investment you get access to all types of foreclosures all across the country as well as news and studies on the market. You can customize your search in these sites to yield only the properties that suit your needs and buying capability.

Once you have subscribed to a web service offering foreclosure listings and before selecting your main prospects, you need to prequalify for home financing first if you do plan to pay for your purchase in cash. You can go to your bank and submit for a financial assessment to know the kind of loan and the amount you qualify for. You need this pre-approval certificate when you make your offer.

The Value Appraisal

If you have selected the home you would like to purchase you need to get an appraisal of the value of the property or at least the most likely price of the home compared to others like it in the market and the neighborhood. Bank foreclosure properties are typically sold at around 20 to 30 percent less than their market value.

The Offer

A typical offer for a bank owned home comes with good-faith money given upfront which can be around three percent of the purchase price. Your loan pre-qualification document should also be included in your offer. After your offer is accepted the deed of sale is drawn up. Some important matters to take care of at this point are the inspection period and the closing date as this could impact the overall cost of your purchase. The bank will allow an inspection contingency phase where buyers can cancel their purchase based on the inspection results.