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FORECLOSURE, 3 and 1/2 VIEWPOINTS

By
Mortgage and Lending with Christensen Financial Mortgage 385907

I looked in Webster's for a definition of "foreclosure" and it left me a little empty and puzzled. It just didn't do it for me. It lacked any emotion.

Foreclosure;  take away the right to redeem (a mortgage)

Usually when I see the word "foreclosure" in print it stirs up much more powerful emotions than Webster's did.

Try these situations;

From the individual(s) or family viewpoint;

A foreclosure of one's home has to be a very powerful and traumatic experience. It is usually accompanied with other life altering situations such as loss of job, illness, divorce, or death. This can be a truly brutal experience, not soon forgotten, if ever. Even if a foreclosure is really the fault of the borrowers, where they purchased a home that they couldn't afford, it's still very sad.  

From the vantage point of an investor;

This is different. It's not someones home, it's a house, it's real estate. The investor purchased the house in an attempt to generate additional cash flow, increase net worth, or maybe to sell for a profit. This was a business decision. No one likes to see someone fail with their investments, but I gotta tell you it's not generating the same level of pain for me.

The Bank, Mortgage Co., Financial institution;

Strictly business! A decision gone bad where the security will be come a REO (real estate owned). This is a failed business investment, just another day at the office. The goal now will be to liquidate the asset to minimize the loss. This now all sounds so impersonal, probably because it is.

Well that's 3, so where's the 1/2?

As a REO, it's a guaranteed sale! That's right that house has to be sold. At whatever price, it's a goner! The financial institution has no desire to retain ownership. It wants to make it liquid. 

This is part of what's going on in our market today and I was looking for a happy ending, but I couldn't find one.

WELL, MAYBE SOMEONE WILL GET A GOOD BUY AND MAKE IT A HOME AGAIN! WE CAN ONLY HOPE. 

 

Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Jay...I find this hard to respond to....but I'm here!

I guess I tend to view from a more emotional viewpoint...Sort of a vulture circling the ailing prey scenario!

Lot of vultures out there these days!

Aug 09, 2007 04:03 PM
Paul Moye
Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN
Broker, GRI, SRES

Vultures?

The foreclosure rates based on death, injury and job loss has always been a part of the industry. Lenders know that almost 10% of all loans will come back to them. For this group yes it is a terrible thing that in most cases couldn't be helped.

Today's issues are not due to these circumstanses but from a lack of reality and responsibility.

Seems some of us feel that people who should have never been approved for a loan (subprime) or others who can not live within their means (conventional ARM) and the last group, those who thought that real estate was a quick cash cow as seen on TV (ALT A Investor w/ stated income) are blameless? Hogwash

I don't remember seeing anyone wringing their hands when the cash was flowing.

What is occurring is as natural as the sun rising and setting...this is a business

Aug 10, 2007 12:46 AM
Jay Beckingham
Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL
Seniors ROCK!

in sw fla a lot  of the problems fall into the second category.  in many cases these investors really got quite greedy. the problem is when you start to see foreclosure numbers you aren't going to be able to tell what's what.

jay 

Aug 10, 2007 12:48 AM
Jay Beckingham
Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL
Seniors ROCK!

Paul,

i agree, particuarly with your initial staement cause it' right on the money. as a lender i look at the industry and feel that the easy cash was created by this industry, therefore, we should bear the burden. the other side is it wouldn't have been offered if the market was not begging for it.

as for the investors. they took a risk and many made big bucks without much effort, and then some got left holding the bag, so to speak. they knew there was risk going in.

jay 

Aug 10, 2007 12:56 AM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

I guess Perspective is why I'm not in Banking. I am not a black and white person...My referance "vulture" is to those who bank on others failures(scenario#1) and support laws that encourage the continuance of this condition for their own enrichement! I call that greed not business! Scenario's 2&3....they took an informed risk and the clock ran out.

Paul I would imagine you are very successful in what you do!

Aug 10, 2007 03:29 AM
British Homes Group
British Homes Group - Kissimmee, FL
Quite so...the use of the word foreclosure today stirs up alot of interest...all for the wrong reasons...
Aug 10, 2007 03:45 AM
John Popp
Charlotte, NC
Everyone is entitled to their own viewpoints
Aug 10, 2007 04:37 AM