CONS
• The biggest downside of an auction is that it is unpredictable. The outcome is uncertain, and you can be left with much less than you were hoping for. This can be mitigated by setting a reserve price, but remains a problem. • You must hire a skilled professional, and skills come with a price tag. • There is no guarantee that you will successfully sell a property at auction. In fact, only 75% of property auction listings achieve a successful sale. • Regardless of whether your property sells or not, you must cover the costs of the auction.
SELL TO AN INVESTOR
“We Buy Houses,” or “We Buy Ugly Houses”—you see the signs on telephone poles at intersections. Real estate investing is huge business. There are many top-notch real estate investors in almost every city. They are always “on the lookout” for a new purchase, and you should be able to find one rather easily. However, beware of scamming. There are many scams, which means that you need to find the right investor to avoid getting swindled. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reported cases of mortgage fraud have skyrocketed in line with the rise in home prices in many U.S. markets. One of the most prevalent scams is home appraisers over-inflating home values to secure larger loans. In one example relevant to the inheritor of a house in need of updating and repairs, the buyer uses a fake identity or another person’s name and credit history to
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