The HUD Home Process - From Offer to Closing Day

Purchasing a HUD home or a home where thebids are reviewed and in the event the property
mortgage was insured by the FHA and has gonestill remains unsold after general public bids, all daily
into foreclosure is not as hard of a process asbids received by 11:59 pm will be reviewed and
you may think. Whether you are looking at awinning bid results are posted the next day by
hudhome as part of the Good Neighbor Next1:00 pm. All Bids are reviewed after 1:00 pm on
Door (GNND) program or looking to purchase theFriday afternoon or on Saturday or Sunday on
home as an investor, there are some guidelinesthe Monday following.
these homes have and you should know aboutWhat is the Closing Process?
them and adhere to them to ensure yourOnce your signed sales contract has been
purchase. Here we will go through the process ofsubmitted through your real estate broker within
purchasing government homes from offer tothe 48 hour time period, they will acknowledge
closing day.your sales contract and provide your real estate
Who Can Buy a HUD Home?agent a letter letting you know that you now
Anyone can purchase a hudhome and thehave 45 days to close. A closing agent is assigned
foreclosed homes may be purchased as anto you and will work with your broker to ensure
owner-occupied home or investors. Buyers whoyou close on time with all the required documents.
are seeking a foreclosed home on anIt is important to note that if your real estate
owner-occupied basis have a priority bid periodagent uses a recommended closing agent, as
over investors of ten days.they will pays the closer's fees. If you use your
How Are they Priced?own closing agent, you are responsible for paying
They are sold at market value price or what isall closing cost fees.
called the appraised market value. A buyer canWhat Else Should I Know?
make any offer, but usually, they will accept onlyIf you are buying a HUD foreclosed home, they
those offers close to the market value price,will pay up to 5% commission to the selling
unless they offer a price reduction on a hudhomebroker, or your real estate agent. They will also
that isn't selling.pay up to 3% of standard closing costs if you
All these homes are sold "as is," meaning thereuse one of their closing agents. They may
are no warranties nor do they guarantee thereimburse loan origination fees of up to one
home's condition. Home inspections arepercent on your new mortgage. You can also ask
recommended and required prior to buying ayour real estate agent to explain how earnest
hudhome to ensure any needed repairs will fallmoney can be returned and what requirements
within your budget or if you can roll them intomust be met. Be sure to ask about how earnest
your new mortgage. Home inspections aremoney is refunded because if this happens to
ordered and paid for by the buyer and you shouldyou, certain guidelines must be followed to receive
only hire a licensed inspector.all or half of your earnest money if you fail to
What Are Offer Timelines/Deadlines?close on the home.
Unlike a conventional home purchase where youWhat If I Need More Time?
and the seller may negotiate for as long as youIf for any reason, you feel you and your real
wish, there are certain deadlines. To be fair toestate agent or financial institution can't complete
every buyer, the timelines that you must meet inthe closing process within 45 days, your real
your bid otherwise the bid you make on theestate agent must notify the closing agent at
hudhome will face cancellation. For example, onceleast two weeks prior to your 45 day deadline
your real estate broker sends your bid in to beand submit the required form "Request For
considered and it is accepted as the highest bid,Extension of Closing Date," and you may get to
your real estate broker must send your signedextend your timeframe for another 15 days. Your
sales contract within 48 hours of the bid or yourreal estate agent must provide appropriate
bid will be canceled-also preference is given todocumentation on why you need an extension in
closings within 45 days of bid.additional to certain monies required.
How Are Bids or Offers Submitted?For example, with every approved extension
You must have your bid or offer submittedrequest, they must also receive a cashier's check,
through a real estate broker who is licensed tomoney order or other certified funds made
sell a HUD home. Offers are submitted through anpayable to HUD that are considered extension
electronic bidding process by your broker. Each bidfees. The extension fees are based on the
is stored within a computer and after the setcontract sales price. For example, if the hudhome
time period, the computer calculates the highestyou are purchasing is less than $25,000, you pay
bidder automatically. Your broker is then notified if$10 per day or $150, homes sold at $25,001 to
you are the winning bidder and asked to submit a$50,000 have a $15 per day fee or $225. Homes
signed sales contract within 48 hours of your bid.that sell for over $50,000 and require the 15-day
Failure to abide by the 48-hour period will cancelextension will pay a fee of $25 per day or $375.
your bid.Whether you need to pay $150, $225, or $375,
How Are Homes Listed?these fees must be submitted to in certified
All new listings are released weekly each Fridayfunds or money order as described above.
morning. During the first ten days of any newPurchasing one of these types of foreclosure
listing on each Friday morning, they only acceptshomes requires you to keep in close contact with
bids from owner-occupied bidders. It doesn'tyour real estate agent, especially if you require an
matter if you submit a bid on day one, day five,extension. All 15-day extensions applied for
or day ten, as long as the bid has been receivedowner-occupied buyers will have no fees if your
electronically, all owner-occupied bids to bereal estate agent provides the documentation
submitted simultaneously. On the 10th day, allindicating a timely loan and loan application was
owner-occupied bids will be reviewed and winningmade and that your mortgage approval is very
bids are posted daily at 1:00 pm. This initial 10-dayclose. Further, if you are charged an extension
period is called the Exclusive Listing Priority Period.fee, all fees are retained whether you close on
After the 10-day period has passed and notime or not and then used as part of your closing
winning bids are confirmed, HUD will open up thecosts.
bidding to the general public. These general public