If you are getting involved with real estate you may have heard the term REO without really knowing what it refers to and how it could play a part in your current or future investments. REO is actually just an acronym that stands for real estate owned by the bank. REOs arent all that common because the bank doesnt want them, but they do happen and you can really cash in as a result.
How a Property Becomes an REO
When a bank forecloses on a home or property owner, it is requires by law to hold a public foreclosure auction. Sometimes, because of lack of publicity or other reasons the home will not get any bidders at the auction, and the bank will end up owning the property. When the bank ends up owning the property it is then known as real estate owned by the bank, or an REO. An REO isnt something that the bank wants, but many investors consider them gold mines.
Why the Home Wasnt Bid On
There are a variety of reasons that a piece of property will become an REO. The mot common reason is that the property had very little equity in it. Many investors will not bid on a property that has less than 30% equity. In fact, statistics show that banks end up with...