The complexities involved in Las Vegas Distressed Property negations can be many, and an inexperienced investor without competent advisers might encounter major problems that could have many unpleasant consequences, including financial loss.

So, as a word of caution to the inexperienced, it cannot be said often enough that a thorough investigation and verification of all the factors involved in a purchase of this kind, by competent and trusted advisers, is the best assurance one can have of becoming a successful Las Vegas Distressed Property Investor.

In addition to a close and thorough inspection of the property by a licensed and experienced home inspector, other important issues must be investigated and resolved before committing to purchase a foreclosure or pre-foreclosure property.

Any additional encumbrances upon the property, in addition to monies owed to the lender, could cause unpleasant consequences for the buyer if a thorough title search and other investigations were not undertaken.

For example, the investor and advisers should have a thorough knowledge of all federal, state and county laws pertaining to the purchase of a distressed property from an owner, lender or government agency.

Outstanding utility bills, liens of any kind, and any title issues, such as the name or names appearing on the deed matching those on the title, etc., have to be examined and evaluated prior to any purchase commitment on the investor’s part

If a seller has declared bankruptcy, the seller no longer has the authority to deed the property to anyone. The proper filing through bankruptcy court and the disposition of the deed under the authority of the bankruptcy trustee is the final word on how a property is held or disposed of.

It is certainly advisable that the investor has satisfactorily checked out all of the above before making a purchase or no purchase decision. Use all of the safeguards at your disposal, (your advisory team, etc.) to protect yourself from any unforeseen consequences.

Buying REO properties at auction is one of the riskiest investment ventures a newcomer can choose to pursue. The dangers that a newcomer can face in the business of buying properties at auction, can easily be compared to jumping into a pool full of hungry sharks. The chances of survival are equally the same!

At auction you are bidding on “as is” properties, with no warranties or guarantees of any kind.  There could be liens or loans still pending.

There is always the possibility of a lawsuit by parties attempting to overturn the sale, there could be extensive repairs needed to get the property in saleable condition, etc.

Certainly, there are investors with a solid background of successful auction buying and selling, but if you are new to this phase of real estate investing, you most probably won’t be one of them.

If you have any questions about investing in Las Vegas Real Estate, feel free to give us a call at 702.376.0088.

Negotiating to buy distressed properties from a lender certainly shouldn’t trouble the conscience of an investor; however, some investors feel pangs of guilt when trying to negotiate a deal with a Las Vegas Homeowner in financial difficulty.

If you are a creative investor with a conscience, you are not trying to take unfair advantage of anybody. You are not a predator. Instead, you will be attempting to promote a win-win situation that relieves the homeowner of his/her burden, and creates a profitable deal for yourself. This can be done, and is frequently done.

Las Vegas Homeowners in financial difficulty, and who are in danger of losing their home, but are not as yet in a pre-foreclosure situation, would certainly welcome the opportunity to sell at a fair price, and the lender would equally be freed of the expense and difficulties involved in foreclosing and trying to recoup at least a part of their investment.

Seems only fair that the investor should earn a certain profit for his efforts and output of funds. Besides, depending upon the condition of the home, the investor may have additional expenditures for repairs and upgrades necessary to increase the property’s value.

If the homeowner is already in a foreclosure situation, the investor must contact the borrower first, and cannot approach the lender or learn details of the borrowers overall financial situation from the lender without written permission from the borrower.

Once the negotiation process has begun, the investor, regardless of whether dealing with a bank, private lender, or a government agency ( FHA, VA, etc.,) will no doubt have an exit strategy that will include contingency clauses in the proposal. These clauses basically gives the investor an “out” if, for example, the appraisal report is negative for one reason or another, or if a home inspection reveals certain serious problems, such as structural damage.

Additionally, the investor may -unless it is an all cash purchase- specify in the proposal agreement that the purchase is contingent upon the investor obtaining financing under specific terms and conditions.

We are only scraping the surface at this point, since there are many other factors to consider as an investor in foreclosure and pre-foreclosure property.  Since this type of real estate investing can be as complex as it is profitable, it probably should be avoided by a new player in the field, and left to the expertise of a more seasoned investor who conferences with advisers that have considerable experience in this specific area of real estate investment.

Negotiating the purchase of a pre-foreclosure, buying a property at a foreclosure auction, or purchasing the foreclosed property from a lender each take a different negotiating tactic which will be covered in brief in the second part of this article.

If you have any questions about investing in Las Vegas Real Estate, feel free to give us a call at 702.376.0088.

Finding a Las Vegas Home and location that best fits your requirements will be a lot easier if you first understand that you should be clear in your own mind as to what your priorities are.

Sounds strange, but any Realtor can tell you that some people are not really sure of what they want in a property, and have decided they will just keep looking at homes until they find a property in their price range that seems to be “a good fit.”

By establishing some firm guidelines as to what really suits your needs, and discussing with your appointed real estate agent what those needs are, you will have increased your chances of finding your ideal new home in a shorter time, and with less frustration on both your part and your Las Vegas Realtor’s.

After setting a price range guideline, you should analyze and then list all the requirements in a home and neighborhood that are most important and most suitable to you and your family’s needs and lifestyle. For example:

• One or two story construction
• Square footage –interior and lot size
• Number of bedrooms required
• Spacious eat-in kitchen or breakfast nook adjoining family room
• Formal dining room, or open floor plan dining room
• Extra bedroom (guestroom) or den
• Minimum number of bathrooms or half-baths
• Fireplace
• Garage size
• Roomy backyard
• Xeriscaped or lushly planted front yard
• Fenced, walled or open property
• Trees

Of course, some compromise will undoubtedly be necessary, but the guidelines you have established will certainly help in your decisions. Now, what about the Las Vegas Neighborhood?

The neighborhood has a direct influence on property values, so the area in which you choose to live is of equal importance to your choice of a home.

Again, you need to list in order of importance what neighborhood values are necessary and what compromises you and your family are able and/or willing to accept. For example:

• Distance to work (driving time) and easy access to major thoroughfares and freeways
• Availability of public transportation
• Nearby schools and quality of the school district
• Higher educational facilities within reasonable distance
• Overall appearance of the neighborhood; regardless of income level, whether blue-collar, middle or upper class, neighborhood homes should have the appearance of being well –maintained and neatly landscaped
• Any repeated sightings of neglected, or abandoned homes are a definite RED FLAG!
• Check with your Realtor to get the neighborhood stats on short sales and foreclosures before you decide to make an offer on a home in the area.
• Crime statistics are another vital piece of information you should have before committing to a property

So, without a real understanding of what would be a best home and neighborhood fit for you and your loved ones, you could wind up spending fruitless hours scanning MLS listings, to no avail, and driving your poor, dedicated Las Vegas Real Estate Agent crazy.