Posts Tagged ‘sell my house’

Stop Repossession - Know All Your Options

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Becoming a property owner is everyone’s dream. Regardless of where you live or whether you’re single or part of a large family, owning a house is a dream shared by most. Although many people are able to purchase a house, not every real estate owner is fortunate enough to be able to keep their house.

Financial difficulties often make it impossible to continue to make the bond payments, which often make the bank start the repossession process. This can be a very stressful and frightening experience for the homeowner and their family. Occassionally they have difficulty making their bond payments because of redundancy, health problems, death in the family, divorce or similar problems. At times, property owners are forced to sell, and selling property when under pressure can prove to be a difficult task.

Too many homeowners suddenly give up and think they have no choice but to lose their home just because they are having financial difficulties. What they don’t realize is that they have options to help them prevent repossession.

Contact your banker as soon as you start having difficulty making the bond/mortgage payments. This option is listed first because it’s probably the most important. The bank is probably willing to help you keep your home because they often lose money when they have to repossess a home. However, they can’t help you unless they actually know you need help. This is important if you plan to stop repossession of your home.

Ask your banker about a “holiday” or “grace” period. This can be from 3 to 6 months and it is a period where you don’t have to make any payments. Often this amount of time gives the property owner enough time to evaluate and improve their financial situation. This may include finding a new job, paying off other debts or awaiting payment that may be owed to you by someone. Banks are usually willing to help with this if you’re honest with them and don’t wait too long to get hold of them.

Ask that the term of your bond be increased. Many bonds are set up for a term of 20 years. By having the bank extend the term to 30 years, your payments are going to be smaller and possibly easier to make. It’s important to remember that you will be paying more interest on your bond but your monthly payments will be smaller. If your financial situation improves in the future, you can always revert the loan back to 20 years again. You can rely on this to prevent repossession of your property.

Your bank may be willing to negotiate on the overall debt total. This can help you in many ways including less interest, smaller monthly payments and shorter term on your bond. The bank may not get as much as they’d hoped for but they’re going to get what they need so they are still making money and you’re keeping your house. The bank would much rather help you this way than have to go through the expense of repossessing your home.

Contact a property investor or repossession expert for help. Although this may be a last resort, it can also turn into one of the best options. They will often step in and buy the home from the bank before it can be repossessed and sold at auction. Another reason this option works for many homeowners is because they are often allowed to rent and continue to live in the home.

As you can see, as daunting and stressful as the situation may appear, there are options you can take to avoid repossession. The important thing is to check on these options as soon as you begin having difficulty making your bond/mortgage payments.

Prevent Repossession With A Sell And Rent-Back Scheme

Friday, September 11th, 2009

The economy has been very shakey in the past couple of years and real estate owners have felt this hit more than others. The South African property market has felt the tough times from home prices falling and many homeowners are afraid they’re going to lose their home by repossession.

Banks are always willing to work with the property owners to try to get them back on track with their monthly bond payments. Although banks may have the reputation for having deep pockets to take your money and being eager to take your home away from you, this image is not completely accurate. Banks do not stand to gain a lot when they repossess a property. They may have ownership of the home but they have to bid on it at public auction.

They are not concerned with how much the house is worth. They will only bid on what the borrower owes them - nothing more. So, they are not making a profit, especially with the way home values have fallen recently. Property owners definitely do not stand to gain anything from a property repossession. They maybe won’t have their monthly bond payments to make but they also do not have their home and they have a negative credit report that can haunt them for years. In addition to this, ***selling property*** when it comes to pressured times can be an absolute nightmare and is not something to look forward to.

Homeowners that are struggling in South Africa to keep their home from repossession are finding a good solution in ’sell and rent back’ services. Sell and rent back companies are being used more and more now with so many homeowners at risk of losing their home in repossession. The great thing about these sell and rent back services is that you no longer have to lose sleep every night worrying about getting kicked out of your home because you can’t make the monthly bond payments. This is one sure way to stop repossession of your home. These sell and rent back companies buy your home for cash and allow you to stay in the home and rent it from them.

Your life can continue the way it was before you began having such financial difficulties. You’ll still be in your home but won’t have to worry about large monthly bond payments, taxes or the many other financial strains owning a house can cause. You’ll have a chance to get back on your feet financially, without the stress of uprooting your family and having to find another home to live in. Not to mention, if the home was repossessed, you would be black listed with credit companies and would have a difficult time getting credit or even renting a home as landlords also do a check of your credit history before renting out property.

Another great way to prevent repossession is to use a sell and rent back company as they seldom charge fees for their services so you dont have the additional worry of coming up with extra cash. Another great bonus is that they also offer you a buy-back option. In the future when your financial situation improves and you’re ready to buy a home again, you can buy back your home. So, before you give up completely on your home, contact one of the rent and buy back companies and see how they can help you and your family.

Avoid Repossessin Of Your House As Soon As Possible

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

When the bank or other financial institution threatens to take repossession of your property it can be a very tense and disturbing period in your life. One of the nastiest things that could happen to us is to be told that the roof over our heads is going to be taken away and there’s nothing we can do about it. This can be rather unnerving and cause a lot of stress in your daily life. But all is not lost and if you act in time you can sell your house to a company that deals in buying and selling property even before the repossession proceedings begin.

Actually there are things that you can do to avert repossession from happening in the first place. Plenty of real estate owners are not aware of this and simply allow the banks to claim their home without taking steps to prevent repossession. At this point one could get in touch with a company that deals with purchasing and selling real estate. But even before you reach this stage, you should first contact the bank. If you know you are having a financial problem as a result of which you are likely to miss a payment in the coming month or two, you must inform the bank immediately.

Banks are normally pretty understanding and will do all they can to help you out. They normally end up losing money when they take repossession of your house so they will do their best to prevent this kind of situation.
Appeal to the bank for a grace period which is normally three or six months which the bank gives you within which you have to make no payment at all. This is a chance given to the home owner to sort out his financial problems and get his finances back on track.

This is very helpful as it provides the property owner enough time to maybe get a job, sell some other asset he may own, wait for some deposit to mature or a payment which is due which he can use to pay the bank a few months later. Buying time is important so the repossession of your home is postponed at least for a while untill you have a chance to make things right. If that also fails then you have no better option but to sell your house to a company dealing in purchasing and selling property which will allow you to continue staying in your house as a renter or a tenant.

The next option is to ask the bank for a longer bond period rather than have repossession proceedings begin. Most property owners are on a twenty year bond and are unaware that it can be extended to even thirty years. This way your monthly repayment amount will decrease a little but then you will end up paying more interest. So if you are having problems with cash, you can have the bond term increased and then reverted back to twenty years once your finances improve. Or ask to lessen the total debt amount. Some banks will even do this as repossession means more losses for them. If this also doesn’t work for you talk to a property investor or repossession expert who deals with buying and selling property.

Repossession - Finding A Way Out

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

No-one wants their home to be repossessed. In fact, it’s probably one of the most feared things any property owner could ever face. Not only is it frightening and stressful but it can negatively affect your financial situation for years to come.

Homeowners can fall behind on their bond payments for many different reasons including redundancy, bereavement, divorce or separation or just over-extending themselves financially. When you begin to fall behind in your payments, the bank will contact you to find out what’s going on, why the payments aren’t made and to ask when you’ll be able to make your payment. And if you’re thinking that selling property is a quick and easy task, you may be unpleasantly surprised.

Many people make the mistake of avoiding the phone calls and letters they receive from the bank. They live in a sort of denial of their financial situation instead of speaking with their bank about the situation and trying to get it fixed. Banks will try to be understanding of financial hardships if they’re made aware of them but if nothing is done within a couple of months, they’ll usually start the repossession process.

It isn’t that banks want to repossess your house because banks do not make money on a house they repossess. It’s given to the Sheriff to sell at a Sheriff’s auction for the amount that they are owed. They don’t want to do this but will if they are left with no other choice. If they did nothing, they would not make money and it could give them the reputation that would make other bond holders not make their payments.

Contacting the bank and keeping in communication is the first and best step you can take towards improving your financial situation and being able to avoid repossession. The bank will usually work with customers to find solutions that will work for them and help them catch up. If, however you find yourself in a situation where you’ve waited too long and the bank can’t help anymore, there is another alternative to prevent repossession. This alternative is a property investor.

Property investors are often also called repossession specialists. Property investors make it a habit of buying homes that are about to be repossessed. Keep in mind that they will buy your home for less than the current market value; usually offering around 70% of the market value. Although this may be a distressing and daunting thought, the positive part is that they will take care of the purchase quickly so the home is not repossessed.

Some homeowners wonder why they would want a property investor to buy the home. They may think that either way they’re losing their property so what difference can it make if it’s sold or repossessed. The difference is that if it’s sold to the property investor, it will not go on your credit record that you had a home repossessed, which will help you if you want credit in the future. You do NOT want a repossession listed on your credit history. Secondly, the property investor will often allow you to either rent your house from them or purchase it back when your finances improve.

Repossession - How To Stop It Now

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

House repossession is possibly the most distressing and scary experience a property owner can go through. There is no blow quite as devastating as knowing you’re going to lose your house. Everything you’ve saved for and dreamed about will be gone. As horrible as this sounds, hundreds of people in South Africa, as well as other parts of the world, go through this every year. Their most valuable asset, gone.

The Economy has been very hard on everyone with soaring interest ratings and inflation that just won’t seem to slow down. Homeowners that may have started their home bond paying a low interest rate are now paying a high rate, making it very difficult to keep up with the monthly payments. Some property owners have had to refinance and have two mortgages on their house. With the value of their home decreasing, refinancing is not an option to help them keep up because the equity is just not high enough.

Unforeseen circumstances often cause financial difficulties to homeowners as well. A well-paying job they may have had when they bought their home may no longer exist. Death in the family, divorce, separation or the high cost of living may all contribute to property owners being unable to make their monthly bond payment. The result in many cases is a home repossession. They knew this was a risk when they signed the bond agreement with the bank but never thought they’d be in such a daunting situation.

If any of these circumstances sound familiar to you, don’t give up and feel repossession is your only choice. There are solutions to prevent repossession of any person’s house. There are several options. Contacting your bank is always the first step that should be taken. Don’t wait for them to contact you and ABOVE ALL don’t avoid talking to them. If you’re honest with them about your situation and believe there is a way that you can catch up, they’ll want to work with you. No one wins in a home repossession and banks will only repossess a home if there is no other choice for them to get their money back.

Many people tend to give up and feel that repossession is their only answer. They even mistakenly believe that the bank will sell their property and give them any leftover money after the bond is paid and they can start over. This isn’t how repossession works here. The bank will bid on your home at a Sheriff’s auction and will only bid as high as the amount you owe them. So, you will lose your property and any equity you may have in the property. There are however methods to prevent repossession of your home. Selling property to the general public is not one of these methods when you are under time constraints with your bank.

Your credit history will also be badly damaged with a record of repossession. You’ll be black-listed and won’t be able to get credit for up to 10 years. If you thought things looked bad before you lost your property, you’ll find out they are a lot worse after repossession. Repossessions often go so quickly so you won’t really have time to try to sell your home and get a decent price for it.

If you aren’t able to work out a compromise with the bank, your best option may be to contact a repossession company to help you. They’ll quickly purchase your property from the bank so you won’t have repossession on your history. You may also be given the option of renting the home from them or buying it back when your financial situation is better. Although many consider repossession companies as a last resort, it’s often the perfect choice to stop a home repossession.

Prevent Repossession By Contacting A Repossession Company

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Many people today are at risk of losing their home to repossession. Repossession occurs when property owners can’t make their monthly bond payments and the bank forecloses and takes the property. Before they can own the home, it has to go to the Sheriff and be sold to the highest bidder at a Sheriff’s auction.

Property owners may have trouble keeping up with their payments for many different reasons including sickness, death, loss of job, etc. If you’ve ever had difficulty making your bond/mortgage payment, you know the importance of keeping in contact with your bank and keeping them informed of what’s going on and how you plan to catch up on your payments. Banks can only help you if they know you are having problems so it’s important to contact them as soon as possible so you can meet with them to try to work things out in order to stop repossession of your home.

Unfortunately, many people wait too long to see their banker either because they’re ashamed and embarrassed or because they feel the bank will not assist them. They give up and accept the fact that their home is being repossessed and there’s nothing they can do about it. This is a huge mistake as you can save your home almost right up to the last minute. An alternative that many homeowners use is a repossession company in order to prevent repossession. This can be a far better option than selling property under pressure.

Repossession companies can help prevent your home from being repossessed by buying your property and home for cash on the spot, even if the repossession is almost complete. Not only are repossession companies able to buy your home but they also have the ability to delay your eviction so you have time to find other kinds of help. Even if they don’t buy your home, they’re still able to get this extra time for you. They will give you free advice without making you feel that you have to let them buy your home.

Most repossession companies will not charge fees for their service and are very quick in avoiding repossession. They’ll even give you a free assessment and evaluation that will come in handy for letting you know your options. Repossession companies will do everything they can to help you with your financial crisis.

Repossession companies are also very useful because if they do buy your property, they’ll often let you rent it after they’ve purchased it. Many homeowners like this because they don’t have to worry about moving out in a hurry and being away from their children’s schools and their work. They also offer the property owner the chance to buy the property back from them when their finances get better. To property owners that would lose their property otherwise, repossession companies are like the answer to their prayers. It gives them the chance to always stay in their home and not have to uproot the entire family.

Repossession And Your Bank

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Bankers have had the reputation with customers for being very stiff, procedural and harsh. Many people also believe that bankers will not waste time starting legal action against real estate owners who fail to make their bond payments. Although some of this may be true, banks are also willing to help homeowners that are having difficulty in making their bond payments. When banks have to start repossession on a house, it takes a lot of time and money. They seldom come out ahead, especially with the market the way it’s been due to the economy. After all, selling property in a distressed market can be a tough task

Many homes have lost a lot of their value and are not even worth as much as the borrower owes on their home bond. So, the banks really do want to help you find a solution where they’ll get their money and you can keep your home. However, they won’t know you’re having financial worries or the reason why unless you tell them about it. Having a good relationship with your bank is always a must if you want them to help you to prevent repossession of your property.

The unfortunate truth is that many homeowners feel shame and embarrassment because they are late on their bond payments and tend to pretend the problem does not exist as though ignoring it will suddenly make it go away. All this does is allow them to get further and further in debt, leaving them feeling even more hopeless and humiliated. A simple call to their bank could help get rid of those negative feelings and get them back to where they should be financially.

Banks are fully aware of the rising interest rates and how they’ve negatively affected borrower’s ability to make their monthly payments. They understand and are willing to help when the property owner’s are willing to be open and honest with them about their financial problems, what caused them and what the property owner can do to help the situation. The banks won’t help just anyone who says they need assistance in avoiding repossession of their property. They’ll talk with each customer and evaluate the situation and help those who they feel need help to keep their home.

Real estate owners who are having trouble making their payments need to get hold of their banker as soon as possible and explain the situation to their banker so they can offer assistance. It’s also important that the homeowner realize that it’s not the banks fault that they’re having difficulties and they should not take their frustrations out on the bank. The better relationship they have with their bank, the more willing the bank will be to work with them in helping them keep their home.

Many people hear rumors or hearsay about an individual having difficulty keeping their house and working with a bank. Each situation is different, so don’t assume that it’s the bank’s fault and fail to contact them when you need their help. Just because the bank was not able to help one homeowner doesn’t mean that they won’t be able to help you. They evaluate every financial situation and customer differently and will offer their help based on that situation. So, don’t presume to know if they will or won’t help you to avoid repossession. Give them the chance to show you how helpful they can be.

Avoiding Repossession Is A Possibility

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

With the state the economy is in today, you find that there are an increasing number of people at risk for repossession. If you happen to be one of these folk and you need money to pay back your mortgage or any other kind of home loan, there is just one best way of doing it. You have to quickly sell it to a company that deals with buying and selling property and who can buy it from you immediately. Here you will find tips on how to prevent repossession of your house.

The bank or other financial institution which holds your mortgage or loan will not begin repossession proceedings until such time when you do not make your monthly loan payments for two months at a stretch. At such time they will inform you that they will start the proceedings and you should act fast before it actually happens. Get in touch with a company that buys and sells real estate immediately.

If you have decided that you want to pay back the mortgage but at the same time live on in your home, you have the choice of selling your property and renting it back; this is offered by quite a few good companies dealing with buying and selling real estate. Yet, if you just sell your house without any conditions, it won’t be possible. If you can obtain a sell and rent back agreement, you can sell your home to such a company and still stay in the same property as a tenant with a lease. This can be a clever solution for those who are under a financial obligation as it helps them stop repossession of their property, repay the bank or other financial institution the money they owe them and at the same time continue to live on in their current property.

You also have the option of selling your property to a property buying company who can help you to prevent repossession of your house. As an alternative to staying in your property as a renter, you can be permitted to stay in your house as a tenant. This will permit you to pay back your loan, steer clear of repossession and at the same time continue to stay in your home like the sell and rent back option. In fact the quickest and most efficient way to prevent the bank from starting repossession proceedings against you is to sell your property to a company that is ready to keep you on as a tenant.

Even though this is the best way to stop repossession and at the same time continue living in your house the problem is that you can stay so long as the tenancy agreement permits you to. So before you sign the agreement check the length of the stay that you are allowed and if it is good enough for you. Otherwise you might want to have it modified if possible. An advantage of this is now you will no longer be responsible for any maintenance that needs to be done on the property. The company involved in buying and selling property and who has bought your property will be responsible for the maintenance as well as the costs involved.

Secret Methods For Preventing Repossession

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Going through a property repossession is probably one of the most stressful and frightening experiences we can go through, especially when there are children that may also lose their home. The stress alone can cause mental, emotional and physical health problems.

Sometimes real estate owners find themselves in a situation where it looks like they may lose their property in repossession. The reasons may not even be their fault. Situations like losing a job, poor health, divorce, medical bills, etc can all put a financial strain on your family. Sadly for many property owners, these problems can make it almost impossible to make their monthly bond payment.

When faced with these problems, some just give up, which is the biggest mistake they can make. If this happens to you or your family, don’t sit back feeling sorry for yourself and cussing out the bank because you owe them money that you can’t afford to pay. Take action now! If all else has failed and repossession looks like a certainty, contact a repossession specialist or repossession company! This is a lot safer than going about selling property on your own with the risk of the property not selling.

Repossession companies have years of experience in taking care of homeowners who are at risk of having their home repossessed. They realize and understand that every situation is different and having the training, experience and knowledge to deal even with problematic cases and bond situations. They won’t keep you waiting on pins and needles, wondering if they will help you. If you want a fast sale of your property, that’s what they will give you. This is one of the finest ways to prevent repossession of your property.

When repossession specialists say they’ll give you an instant sale, they mean instant. Within 48 hours of speaking to them, they’ll make you an offer, which means the sale process is already starting. They’ll also contact the bank that has your bond and will deal with them so you don’t have to. As you can see there are solutions to avoid repossession of your home.

Each property sale and potential repossession may be part of a different situation and they can help you with each type including buying your house and renting it back to you, helping you deal with all your financial difficulties, working with divorced or separated couples trying to prevent repossession.

It is important to realize that repossession companies will not offer you the market value of your home but rather the trade value, which is usually around 70% of the market value. Many people are accepting of this offer because they are guaranteed an efficient sale, which saves them the stress and hassle of going through having their house repossessed and their credit black-listed.

When the homeowner is once again ready to purchase a home, their credit is not black-listed so they can apply for another bond to purchase a new home or their original home from the repossession company. Yes, that’s another bonus of dealing with a repossession company. They’ll rent your house to you so you don’t have to move out and will re-sell it to you when you feel your finances have improved. For many unfortunate property owners, repossession companies are their best option for avoiding repossession.

Understanding Home Repossession

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

We are hit with many predicaments and catastrophes every day but none can be worse than experiencing a property repossession. Unfortunately for many homeowners, home repossession is something that more and more people have to live through, often through no fault of their own. We’ve suffered some very difficult financial times what with the constantly increasing interest rates as well as inflation and the economy in general.

As bad as the prospect of a home repossession may seem, you don’t need to just give up and accept what you think is inevitable. You may be in for some stressful times ahead while you try to save your home but there are things you can do to stop a home repossession. Home repossession is a constant and very real threat when you fail to make your monthly bond payment for your home. While everyone is late occasionally and many people are finding it difficult to keep up, the bank will take steps to repossess the home if consecutive months are missed. At this point in time, selling property enters the seller’s mind.

If after contacting your bank you still find that it is almost impossible to keep up with your payments, the next option may be to sell your property before the bank has a chance to repossess it and sell it at a Sheriff’s auction. When it’s sold at a Sheriff’s auction, the bank will only bid as high as the amount that you owe the bank and possibly to cover fees. Any thoughts you may have had of making a profit after the bond is paid off, you can stop having! However, there is some good news, and that is that it is definately possible to avoid repossession of your house.

When faced with a possible home repossession, many homeowners try to sell their home on their own. With inflation and the economy as it’s been, many properties have been reduced in value over the past few years, making it tricky to even sell the house for enough to pay off the bond. There are also many expenses involved in selling your home, which a person facing repossession often can’t afford. Another negative about trying to sell your home is that there often isn’t enough time to get it sold before the actual property repossession takes place even though it takes a few months.

These are all stressful events that can add a lot of frustration into the family home. A much easier option, when all else fails, is to contact a repossession company to purchase your property. They’re fast at what they do and will usually make the bank an offer within a day or two of meeting with you. They’ll only offer around 70% of the market value but this is still better than the alternative, which is losing the property and having it on your credit history.

Repossession companies can often delay your eviction so you won’t have to worry about being kicked out and having to look for housing. This is another great solution to prevent repossession of your house. They’ll also rent the property to you, which makes it easier if you have children in local schools or a job nearby. They’ll do everything possible to make this horrible time in your life as stress-free as possible. They also may offer to sell you your house back when your finances are in better shape. While repossession companies may be your last option and only when you can’t work with the bank any longer, they are a much better option than losing your property and your credit worthiness.