Foreclosure Investment

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Definition: Foreclosure Investment


Foreclosure Investment


Full Definition of Foreclosure Investment


Foreclosure investment refers to the process of investing capital in the public sale of a mortgaged property following the foreclosure of the loan secured by that property.

In real estate, foreclosure is the termination of the [equity] of redemption of a mortgagor or the grantee in the property covered by the mortgage. Depending on the type of foreclosure proceeding, the sale may be administered by the courts (Judicial foreclosure) or by an appointed trustee (Statutory foreclosure). Proceeds from the sale are used to satisfy the claims of the mortgagee primarily, with any excess going to the mortgagor. Anyone may bid on properties sold at a foreclosure sale. As a practical matter, however, most properties are acquired by the lender, often for the amount owed on the foreclosed loan.

When interest rates rise, homeowners with variable interest rates often become overextended, providing opportunities for foreclosure investment professionals to obtain investment properties at depressed prices. The most common reason for foreclosure is the dissolution of a marriage. The next most common reason is a failed business venture. Foreclosure investing can provide favourable returns.

Stages Of Foreclosure

The foreclosure process begins when a financially distressed homeowner fails to make a loan payment and is served with a summons from his or her creditors. After service, papers will be filed with the county clerk’s office and be made a matter of public record (in some areas the place where deeds and mortgages are registered may go by a different name, such as the office of the land registrar). This notice is usually known as Lis Pendens, which is Latin for “pending legal action.” At this point, any attempts by the homeowner to borrow from public credit sources will be met with a negative response. On completion of the publication process, the foreclosure action will be permitted to proceed and the owners have a limited amount of time to pay up, sell, or make other deals with creditors. If none of these actions is taken, a foreclosure sale will take place. If no one bids the amount owed, the property reverts to the lender and becomes an REO (real estate owned) property held in inventory by the lender. Experienced foreclosure investors may work in all of these various stages, but the possibility of making a transaction with the homeowner is no longer possible after the property is an REO.


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Definition Sources


Definitions for Foreclosure Investment are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 1st May, 2020 | 0 Views.