AZ HOME BUYER -REO's MAKING AN OFFER PART 5

Making an Offer

Have your agent contact the the listing agent and ask the following before submitting a purchase offer:

• Are there any inspection reports?
• Has the bank agreed to make any repairs?  Will they offer a seller's concession for the buyer's loan costs?
• Is there a special "as is" form?
• How long does it take the bank to accept an offer? Are there any other offers?  If so, how many?

Offers are usually FAXED or emailed to the Bank's agent.  There is no formal presentation.  Keep in mind---nothing happens evenings and weekends (banks are closed).  It's a good idea to expect a response time of 4-5  business days to your offer. Since there is no face-to-face presentation to the bank you should provide the listing agent with a Loan Status Report (LSR) plus proof of funds. Make your offer straight forward and easy to accept.
Remember that REO's are selling very close to full list price and often thousands over the asking price---depending on the location of the property and multiple bidders.  REO's are not always the deals presented on late night television.

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AZ BUYER--HOW BANKS SELL REO'S PART III

How Banks Sell REO's

Each bank/lender works a little differently but they all want to get the best price possible and have no interest in giving away the property. If the bank is very large they will have an entire department set up to manage their REO inventory.  After you make an offer to purchase, banks usually present a "counter-offer" and/or ask for your "highest & best" offer especially when there are several bidders on a property.   The Bank's counter may be at a higher price than you expect (especially the first week a REO is listed for sale) but they have to demonstrate to investors, shareholders and auditors that they attempted to get the highest price possible. You should plan to counter the counter-offer but when multiple offers exist you may not get the opportunity to make an additional counter offer.
Additionally, your offer will have to be reviewed and approved by several individuals and/or mortgage insurance companies.  Although an offer is accepted the bank may insert verbiage like “contingent upon corporate approval within 5 days" plus include there own "AS IS" addendum.