Posts Tagged ‘repossed home’

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Repossessed Homes: House Prices to Recover Slowly

Monday, August 3rd, 2009



House prices in England will fall this year and next before recovering, the National Housing Federation forecasts.

It expects prices to fall 12.2% in 2009 and 4.6% next year, before stabilising in 2011 with a 1.1% rise and continuing to climb in the following years.

It predicts that, by 2014, house prices will be 20% higher than current values.

But the group, which represents housing associations, said English homeowners who bought at the market peak could be in negative equity for five years.

Although five-year forecasts can be unreliable, the group said that not enough homes were being built.

Price predictions

The group has suggested that house prices would fall sharply this year. This was in stark contrast to the view of the Nationwide Building Society which this week said there was a “reasonable chance” that prices in the UK could end the year higher than they started 2009.

The reversal in 2011 would accelerate in 2012 with a 7.5% increase in prices, the NHF said, followed by rises of 8.4% in 2013 and 6.8% in 2014.

That would mean that English homeowners who bought at the height of the property boom would be in negative equity until 2014.

“Our research shows that, while house prices are falling in the short term, they will inevitably increase in the long term because of a fundamental under-supply of housing,” said NHF chief executive David Orr.

Only 60% of new homes required to be built each year were being constructed, the NHF said.

The group said that many young and lower-income people would remain locked out of the housing market until restrictions on lending by mortgage suppliers eased.

Visit the BBC site to read the full article.

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How To Avoid Property Repossession

Sunday, July 19th, 2009



I found a great article from Wiki How on Avoiding Property Repossession:

Repossessions are starting to become common. Last year 17,000 homes were repossessed, the highest number for five years, with further rises predicted for the coming year by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

A rise in property repossessions means that bailiffs will be kept busy – so what can you do to stop the bailiffs coming to your house uninvited? This will depend on how bad your situation is, but even if you have been handed a court order, and proceedings for repossession of your home have been started, there are still ways that you can deal with the situation.
If you are, or someone you know is facing repossessions, this article will help to enlighten you with the options that you have.

Steps

1. Falling behind on payments
(A) Lenders will normally only start to take action if you miss payments for two months – if you are having difficulties, the best thing to do is let your lender know and see if you can come to an arrangement with them.
(B) If you fail to come to an arrangement with your mortgage lender, they are most likely to send you a letter from their solicitor demanding payment, before issuing repossession proceedings with the county court.

2. Repossession proceedings
(A) By attending the proceedings, you may be able to come to some arrangement with the court and your lender. However, if you do not attend, the court will have no alternative but to order repossession.
(B) If you can make an offer to keep paying your monthly installments, plus something towards the arrears, the judge may be satisfied with this, and grant a Suspended Order For Possession.

3. Bailiffs
(A)If you have made no acceptable offer for repayment, or defaulted on a Suspended Possession Order, then your lender has the right to seek repossession of your property. In this situation, a court order will be granted, and a date will be set for a court bailiff to visit your property to formally take possession. You will normally be given just 10 minutes to pack your things and get out.

At any point in the process, before the bailiffs arrive, you still have a number of options to solve the problem. These are:

*Negotiate repayment – If you can afford to pay make your normal monthly mortgage installments and pay something towards the arrears, the lender may be able to agree to this.

*Pay off all of the arrears – Your options here are to borrow money from friends or family, or from another lender. It is important to be careful here though, if you can’t afford the payments on a new loan, you may have more lenders chasing you for money.

*Remortgage – Some mortgage companies may be willing to remortgage if your house is worth more then your outstanding debts.

*Sell your property – You could do this through an estate agent, which would probably get you the best price for your house, though there are downsides – it could take many months to find a buyer and complete a sale, and you may even need to spend money on your house to attract buyers, also bear in mind many buyers pull out due to broken chains.

*Sell your property fast – A fast cash buyer will normally offer you between 80% and 85% of the market value of your property, but they will give you a fast sale, completing the exchange of contracts in a very short time frame.
If you are facing a repossession order, this could be the answer. In addition you can sell and rent back your property, avoiding the hassle and stress of finding somewhere else to live.

Tips

* You can possibly sell and rent back – this is a great way of no one ever finding out that you sold your house.

Read the full article here.

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Repossessed Homes UK: £50 Council Handout To Ease Recession Pain

Thursday, July 9th, 2009



Manchester City Council are to investigate the idea of paying homeowners’ “cashback” in an attempt to help them through the credit crunch and ultimately avoid repossession. Each household could be given £50 each to help through the recession. Many people in the UK are currently stuggling with mortgage repayments and with tnis extra money coupled with other government initiatives to help people with repossessed homes, this could ultimately help in stopping their home from being repossessed at a time when every penny counts.

This decision has come as local authorities throughout the UK are drawing up measures to stop unemployment soaring and stop businesses from going under.

This “cashback” initiative would mean that every household in the city would receive a cheque or get a one month reduction in council tax bills. The scheme was initially proposed by the Lib Dems and subsequently, the Labour government agreed to investigate the idea further. A report into the feasibility and cost-effectiveness will be drawn up next week.

A similar scheme was tested in London, but proved to be too expensive, and with 200,000 households in Manchester, the total amount of cashback paid could be £10 million. Would it not be better to spend this amount on a project which would benefit the whole community.

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Repossessed Homes Legal Advice Fund Doubled

Monday, July 6th, 2009



With so many property repossessions occurring in UK, the Government is providing extra funding for free legal advice at courts. The fund which currently stands at £750,000 has been doubled to £1.5 million.

This means that all courts in England now provide free legal advice for people who attend repossession hearings in court. Legal services previously funded the repossessed homes desks at court, but this injection of government money has helped double the number of desks in English crown courts.

The government claim that in that four out of five cases these desks help stop immediate repossession or avoid evictions, and that even at this late stage in the repossession process there is hope that a person can avoid losing their home.

This extra funding comes amid recent figures showing huge increases in the numbers of people whose properties were repossessed in the first quarter of 2009. The Council Of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have also released figures which illustrate a 50% increase in repossession levels in the same period.

The announcement comes as the Financial Services Authority is expected to publish figures showing an increase in the number of people who had their homes repossessed during the first quarter of the year. The CML have stated that a record 75,000 homes have been repossessed already this year.

The UK government have introduced a new range of schemes in order to aid people and help avoid home repossession. This includes the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme which allows people to defer 70% of their interest payments for up to 2 years. Another scheme, the Pre-Action Protocol restricts courts from only issuing repossession orders when there is no other alternative.  However, figures show that only 2 homeowners have actually benefitted from this initiative.

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Top Tips For Buying Repossessed Homes At Auction

Saturday, June 27th, 2009



Currently, repossession properties make up 20% of all homes sold at auction. This figure is constantly rising due to the financial crisis in the UK. Banks and lenders are now moving even more quickly when it comes to repossessed houses and are looking to sell them on their first day listed at auction. What does this mean for potential buyers? low prices. The banks and lenders will be willing to sell low in order to force a quick sale and recoup funds.

Property auctions are the best place to buy repossessed homes, but it’s important to know what you are doing and not end up paying over the odds. Below we have added some quick tips to Repossessed Homes UK so that you can hopefully pick up a bargain repossessed property.

1. Do Research
- Make sure you know the area you are buying in.
- If buying to let then know the rental market.
- If the area has Universities or hospitals nearby then finding tenants will be easier.
- Check the market rate in the area especially on the same street.

2. Auction Trial Run
- Visit Property Auctions as a test and familiarise yourself with the process.
- Watch how others bid.
- Obtain Auction Catalogues from auctioneers.
- If interested in a particular property see if there are other documents available from the auctioneers.

3. Visit The Property
- Make a visit to the property, don’t just rely on catalogue descriptions.
- Take a builder with you if possible to get an idea of how much renovations may cost.

4. Pay for a Survey
- Surveys are essential and can ultimately save you thousands if it means you avoid buying a dud property.

5. Have a Price Limit and Stick to It
- When attending auction, have a maximum bid price in your head for a particular property and STICK TO IT. It’s easy to get carried away in auctions with other bidders present but it can ultimately prove costly.

6. Arrange a Mortgage Before The Auction
- Don’t bid on a repossession property unless you are sure you can get a mortgage.
- Exchanges are done on the day of property auctions.
- You will need to complete within 20 days.
- Never apply for a mortgage after you buy at auction, if your application is rejected you risk losing your deposit.

7. Make Sure Your Deposit is ready
- Make sure you have the 10% ready to put down as deposit on your repossessed property.
- Take chequebook and identification to the auction.

8. Factor in all Costs
Remember that there will be many costs involved and don’t forget to budget accordingly.
- Survey Fees
- Deposit
- Auction Fees
- Stamp Duty
- Solicitor’s Fees
- Renovation Costs for the repossessed house
- Insurance Costs
- Future Mortgage Payments
- Other Costs

9. Calculate Taxes You May Need to Pay in the Future

10. Cover your Mortgage Payments
- If buying to rent the property out, it is not certain that you will get a tenant on the first day, or if there is renovation you will have to wait for a tenant. During this time the mortgage will still need to be paid so factor this in also. We advise to have at least 3 months payments in reserve.

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Almost 1,000 Homes Repossessed Every Week

Sunday, May 24th, 2009



The Telegraph newspaper releases new figures stating that there are almost 1,000 homes being repossessed on a weekly basis in the UK.  The Council of Mortgage Lenders claim that their predictions of 75,000 homes being repossessed his year may be less than in reality. They claim that the government will be introducing new measures in order to help prevent repossession for homeowners.

Economists on the other hand are less optimistic. They claim that with unemployment figures rising on a daily basis, the number of people struggling to make mortgage repayments will also be increasing and record numbers will be losing their homes.

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BBC – UK Home Repossessions Up 50% In One Year

Friday, May 15th, 2009



A new article today on the BBC website shows shocking new figures illustrating the large number of repossessed homes in the UK.

The number of homes repossessed in the UK rose to 12,800 in the first three months of the year, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has said.

This was up 23% from the 10,400 in the previous three months and 50% up on the 8,500 in the same period last year.

The CML has predicted that 75,000 homes will be repossessed in 2009, almost double the 40,000 of last year.

Read the full article on the BBC News Page

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Repossessed Homes FAQs 2

Thursday, May 14th, 2009



What is an N244 Form?
Once you have taken proper legal advice, N244 form is probably the most important document you can have. The form allows you access to appear before the judge again and for a typical cost of £35 . It allows you to have an emergency hearing at any given point, even if you have anb eviction notice the following week for example. It means that you will be bale to appear before the judge to get an eviction turned down.

What Can I Do To Stop My Home Being Repossessed?
The first thing you should do is take advice. We have provided some information of where to get good advice on homes repossession. The judge has no mandate whatsoever to repossess your property and always looks after your best interests. Even if you appear without a solicitor the judge will typically try and help you as he does not want your home to be repossessed. A person whose house is repossessed can then become a burden on the state so the judge will try and avoid this and be on your side. However he is legally bound to use the legal system to seek possession of your property.

Can I Contest a Repossession Order or Eviction Order?
Yes you can contest a repossession order or eviction order. Again you will need a N244 form to get an emergency hearing before the judge. It is important to note that the judge will require some evidence as to why you are contesting. Eg. Remortgage evidence or evidence of sale of the property.

Are there companies that will buy my house and then rent it back to me to avoid repossession?
Yes there are a number of companies on the market who will buy your property and then rent it back to you. each will have different conditions but it must be noted that they are mercenary companies and typically will not pay more than between 65% and 80% of the value of your property. We would usually advise selling on the open market instead, but depending on how fast you need to act and if you want to stay in the property renting your house back from one of these companies can be an option.

How quickly can a repossession be stopped?
A property repossession can be stopped merely by paying all the arrears on the account in full. This will stop an eviction process immediately even if you are at the court stage.

Can I sell my home to avoid it being repossessed?
A home can be sold at any point to any interested parties, even after it has been repossessed provided it hasn’t already been resold.

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Why Auctions Are A Good Place To Buy Repossessed Homes

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009



In the UK, auctions are an excellent place to buy repossessed homes. As soon as the hammer falls the purchase becomes legally binding and an immediate payment of 10% will be required to be paid to the seller’s solicitors. Mortgage companies want to recover losses after home repossession so auctions become an excellent way to sell a property quickly and recover their losses.

For a buyer of a repossessed home, a property auction can be one of the best ways of purchasing a repossession property at a price way below market value. It must also be made clear that the buyer cannot renegotiate a price after the auction is over. Often inexperienced buyers commit to paying over the odds and only find out after a valuation or worse still, a poor survey illustrates some serious problems with the property.

All auction experts advise carrying out full research into a property. They also advise having a maximum bid in your mind on repossession properties and this bid should not be exceeded. A property auction can also be a smooth way of making a purchase, a typical property auction will have 6 or 7 weeks of marketing prior to the event and completion within 4 weeks after the auction. This reduces the chances of delays due to issues of finance, answers to complicated legal enquiries or any other slowdowns. Delays are often common in normal property deals but here properties can be sold and bought in a short space of time.

Repossession auctions can often be extremely competitive and prices often rise over the guide price, so its important not to get carried away in bidding. Experienced auctioneers advise looking out for quieter auctions, if no bids are made on a property it is possible to approach the auctioneers at the end and make a low bid which can be accepted.

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How Not To Bid At Auction

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009



The video below should be watched carefully. This is a common mistake many people make when trying to buy repossessed homes at auction. I shouldn’t laugh but i did.

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