Q5: How do I contact the lender to buy a bank-owned property (REO)? – Answer: If the property is Bank Owned (REO), your first step is to contact the bank, called the lender on RealtyTrac’s Property Details page. The lender now owns the property. You should ask for the lender’s REO department or bank-owned property department to proceed with possibly buying the property.
What is non-judicial foreclosure? – Commonly called “power of sale”, this allows a lender to foreclose without a lawsuit, which is permitted by most states. Instead of a mortgage, the grantor (“borrower”) gives a “deed of trust” to the trustee to hold for the lender (“beneficiary”). When the grantor defaults, the lender files a notice of default and a notice of sale, published in the newspaper. This process takes only 90 days.