Are you asking yourself “how to stay in my home after foreclosure?”
A recent study from RealtyTrac, a data based firm that specializes in foreclosures, estimates that 47% of foreclosed properties are still occupied. When you first see that stat you may be surprised… but we’re not.
What most people don’t realize is that banks aren’t in the business to own homes.
They are in the business to loan people money and to make money doing it. But when they have to foreclose on a house… the bank is forced to own the home until they’re able to sell it to get all or most of their money back.
But, what they had found is that when a Bremerton foreclosed house goes vacant… there is a much greater chance that the house will fall into disrepair. Not only does it lower the overall value of the home, but it can affect the neighboring properties as well. Often times the bank would rather have you in the property even after you stop paying your payments and the foreclosure is started because it wards of vandals and keeps the house in good working order.
There’s been a lot of talk in the media about people living for free after foreclosure – and even many stories about banks “abandoning” properties.
In those stories, people are avoiding house payments for months, even years.
Man, that sounds great! Let’s all live for free. (wink)
Wait… it can’t be that simple, right?
Right.
No bank would purposely neglect to collect payments. The only way that you get to live without making any payments is when some major mistakes were made.
But you might get lucky! It’s possible, and it’s happened before. However, it is highly illegal to avoid payments that you owe, and it can get you in serious trouble.
So why are so many foreclosed homes occupied? It’s important to remember that no one wants the house to be vacant. Vacant homes are targets for vandalism and crime.
Staying in the property can help the bank maintain the value of their investment, so it’s actually in their best interests to keep it occupied. Partly because of the ways that the foreclosure laws are structured in WA, banks may ask you to leave while wanting you to stay.
There are a few perfectly legal ways to remain in your home, even after foreclosure.
How To Stay In My Home After Foreclosure In Bremerton
Typically, you cannot stay in your house after foreclosure because ownership of the property has transferred to the lender or the new buyer at a foreclosure auction. However, there may be some situations where you can stay in your house after foreclosure.
Not all these options are available (depending on your situation and your lenders), and you’ll need some expert advice along the way to help you get through. Here are some potential options to help you stay in your house after foreclosure.
1) Redemption period. Some states have a redemption period after foreclosure during which you can pay the outstanding mortgage balance and reclaim your home. This period can range from a few days to several months, depending on the state.
2) Wait it out. Honestly, this is a pretty bad option, but it seems to be increasingly common. You definitely shouldn’t run away and abandon your house when the first notice of default shows up. Remember that the proceedings and the process takes months and sometimes years. It’s not over until it’s over, so don’t give up too early. On the other hand, don’t wait until the sheriff shows up to evict you to start packing up your stuff.
3) Right of possession. Some states allow you to remain in the property for a certain period of time after the foreclosure sale, called the “right of possession” period. During this time, you are allowed to remain in the property and may have the opportunity to negotiate with the new owner or the lender. This may buy you some time.
4) Go to court. In very rare cases, judges are granting stays and delaying evictions. This is really only a valid option if you (and your attorneys) can prove that the bank has neglected a legal requirement during the foreclosure process. During the past few years, a lot of fraudulent behavior at banks has been uncovered – so we may see an increasing trend of using the courts to stop foreclosure. Fighting banks with lawyers is very difficult, expensive and time-consuming, even if you’ve got a perfect case (most people don’t stand a chance).
5) Propose a move-out bonus. Often buyers of occupied foreclosure properties spend thousands of dollars on lawyers and other costs of eviction, so why not save everyone the time and expense by taking some of that money yourself? It’s known as “cash for keys”. It sounds a little greedy, but greasing the wheels does help everything to run smooth. Plus, you can help out the bank and the buyers by not abandoning the house to squatters before they’re ready to take possession.
6) Rent it back. It may sound crazy, but some banks are willing to take on previous homeowners as tenants in their property. That’s only a short-term fix, as they’ll want your agreement to vacate the premises as soon as they find someone to purchase the property. In some cases, we can even purchase the property and rent it back to you. Leaseback agreement: You may be able to negotiate a leaseback agreement with the new owner, which allows you to stay in the property as a tenant for a specified period of time.
However, it’s important to note that these options are not guaranteed and depend on various factors such as the state you live in, the terms of your mortgage, and the lender’s willingness to negotiate. It’s recommended that you seek legal advice and explore all available options as soon as possible if you want to stay in your house after foreclosure.
It’s really good that you’re reading this page and exploring your options. We help homeowners like you to find creative solutions. We’d love to be able to help you BEFORE trouble comes. If you find yourself looking into Pre-Foreclosure in Bremerton, let’s talk!
We can’t help everyone, but we might be able to help you.
We buy local Bremerton WA houses like yours from people who need to sell fast.