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"I Want to Buy a Bank-Owned Home in Gig Harbor"

By
Real Estate Agent with Windermere Professional Partners

"I want to buy a bank-owned home in Gig Harbor."

This is quite often what current buyers tell me.  Their assumption is that the only "real deal" out there is a home that has gone back to the bank.

So let's take a look at home sales last month in Gig Harbor, WA.  Out of 42 single family home sales, 7 were bank-owned.  I checked assessed value of each home and calculated how much over or under it sold for.  Not that assessed value is an accurate price indicator, but it's a decent place to start the comparison.

The 35 non-bank-owned homes that sold in November ranged in price from $230,000 to $1,075,000.

Assessed values of these homes ranged from 217,600 to $1,050,100.  Only 13 of the 35 sold for more than assessed value, the rest (22) sold for below assessed value.  How much over and how much under?  Between 66.76% and 169.03%. 

The 7 bank-owned homes ranged in price from $200,000 to $514,000.

Their assessed values were between $365,400 and $677,300.  6 of the 7 sold for less than assessed value, 1 sold for more.  In this category, the sales prices ranged from 54.73% to 102.12% of assessed values.

Is buying a bank-owned home a good deal?  Sure, in some cases.  Just make sure that deferrred maintenance issues are factored into your decision.  Especially in the winter months, a vacant home may develop some undesirable issues.

Can you get a good deal on a non-bank-owned home in Gig Harbor?  Based on last month's sales, it sure looks possible.   There are a lot of well-kept homes for sales in nice neighborhoods.  Don't limit your possibilities - you just may find a "real deal" that's not a bank-owned home in Gig Harbor.

Comments(2)

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Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Sue, I think there is a missconception that "bank owned" or "short sale" equals "bargin".  Homes sell for market value. and it is usually the condition that may cause the lower price (or the aggravation of dealing with a bank!)

Banks also know what their properties are worth and they wont give them away for pennies on the dollar when they only have to drop them close to market value to get a sale.  Much the same as any seller that wants to sell quickly.

Dec 14, 2009 04:16 AM
Clifford Niethe
CORE Performance Realty, Phoenix, AZ Real Estate - Desert Hills, AZ
Phoenix, AZ Realtor

My client here in Phoenix is coming back to Gig Harbor in April and will be putting their home up for sale, for what they tell me the value should be there. 

They tell me they have a Realtor and I recommend they contact them to get the process started to help speed up the sale when they arrive, If any of you have a client that may fit the scenario, give your clients a call.

Dec 28, 2009 02:02 PM