Co-Founder & Head of Product

Content Writer, Stacker

Understand how to purchase an REO foreclosure property and what makes them different from other real estate investment opportunities. 

What is an REO Foreclosure?

An REO Foreclosure is a real estate-owned property that failed to sell during foreclosure. The mortgage lender, bank, or mortgage investor owns the property, and these types of properties are sometimes also called “bank-owned” homes. REO foreclosures offer buyers another avenue to acquire real estate. 

Still, as with all investments, it’s critical to understand precisely how to purchase an REO property and know what makes them different from other real estate opportunities. 

For a house to become an REO property, the home must go through several steps. In the pre-foreclosure stage, a homeowner will default on their mortgage. If the homeowner and mortgage lender cannot agree on an option to allow the homeowner to remain in the home (sell via a short sale or return the deed to the lender/investor), the property enters the foreclosure process.

A foreclosure sale is scheduled, and the home is listed for a specific price. If the property does not sell, the lender or the investor will take over property management.

If the property does not sell at foreclosure, the home becomes an REO (real estate owned) property. A house may also become REO property if the previous owners moved out or passed away at the end of a reverse mortgage. If their heirs won’t or don’t want to pay off the mortgage, refinance or sell the property, they can return the property to the lender or investor, and it will become an REO property. 

REO properties are typically categorized as distressed and always sold “as-is.” Remember that these properties are foreclosed when the owner cannot pay their mortgage. As a result, it’s unlikely that REO properties will be well-kept. If the previous owner did not have money for the mortgage, it’s doubtful they kept up with much maintenance. There is also little incentive to keep a home in good condition if you know it is being foreclosed. You will find that REO properties are frequently discounted to sell quickly, which can provide real estate investors with a unique opportunity. 

Pros and cons of purchasing an REO property 

REO properties are a less common way to purchase a real estate investment. As such, they come with distinct pros and cons. Understanding the potential benefits and pitfalls will allow you to decide if buying an REO property is right for you. 

Price is the most significant benefit of purchasing an REO property. The initial listing price of REO properties is often below the current market value, and investors will find that banks are often willing to negotiate the sale of these properties. Purchasing an REO property also offers a buyer protection from outstanding property taxes. There are no outstanding taxes on REO properties, which can be preferable to buying a tax foreclosure home because the new owner would inherit the tax bill. 

REO properties are sold “as-is,” meaning they can have expensive repairs that will likely exceed the standard 1% – 3% of the home value. If you carefully inspect the property and estimate repairs, REO properties can still offer an upside. 

Those interested in purchasing a multi-unit REO property should familiarize themselves with the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act which requires giving the tenants 90 days’ notice. You may be required to honor the terms of the existing lease. 

REO properties can also come with additional costs, including attorney fees and the cost of securing the property. Depending on the market, there can also be a lot of competition for these types of properties. 

You can start your search for REO property listings by using publicly available lists from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the IRS. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provide an aggregate list of REO properties. 

If you are interested in purchasing an REO property, you’ll want to find a real estate agent with this type of property experience. They have a better understanding of how to structure a suitable offer. The right real estate agent will also have good insight into what repairs or changes will be needed for each property. Finding a lender to provide the appropriate financing for an REO property is also critical. Finally, you may need to identify an attorney with REO property experience. 

Once you have identified the best professionals and a suitable REO property, you must submit an offer. Through this process, you will have the opportunity to inspect the property and get an appraisal, which is highly encouraged in purchasing an REO property. The seller is unlikely to pay for an inspection and will not fix anything identified in the inspection report, but having a professional inspection will ensure you have all the information needed to make an informed decision and offer. 

General vs. special warranty deeds for REO properties 

When purchasing an REO property, you will receive a general or special warranty deed. Understanding the difference between the two is essential to protecting your new asset. 

With a general deed, no one can claim issues with your title from before you owned the property. A general deed also indicates that there are no liens and that the property is owned free and clear by the seller.

With the sale of an REO property, you are more likely to receive a special warranty deed. This deed only guarantees that no additional title issues have been created since the bank or investor took over ownership. While the bank or investor has the right to sell the property, there’s no promise against other pre-existing title issues or liens. If you have a special warranty deed, an owner’s title policy can help protect against any pre-existing property claims.

Once you’ve purchased your real estate investment property, consider Belong 

Belong is a new alternative to old-school, expensive property management. We use data and real-time insights to price your property and find your new residents. We help you get your new real estate investment ready for the residents of your dreams. With Belong, you’ll have access to 24/7 customer service and a team of full-time maintenance professionals, who can even assist with renovations and strategic financial decisions on your new investment. 

Once you’ve purchased your new real estate investment, we invite you to explore working with Belong for the smoothest process, guaranteed rent, and concierge-level support. Learn more about Belong for Homeowners.

Property management and asset management play distinct roles in real estate. Find out how successful real estate investors use both to maximize their returns.

Asset Management vs Property Management (and Why You Really Need Both)

The most successful real estate investors don’t go it alone — their wealth is driven by the support of both an asset manager and property manager to maximize income and make strategic decisions on their investments. In this article, we discuss what the difference is between asset management and property management, and how Belong is taking the best from both worlds to create a new service that makes this help more accessible to the everyday rental home investor. 

When it comes to maximizing the income and value of real estate investments on the rental market, asset managers and property managers play two very distinct roles. 

Property management generally describes anyone who manages the physical, day-to-day operation of a home. Services like marketing and listing a home on the rental market, vetting tenants, issuing the lease agreement, collecting rent, and inspecting the property. 

Asset management refers to a professional who gives advice on strategic and financial decisions for the asset, helping to optimize management to suit the owner’s financial goals. For example, this could include cash-flow maximization, tax strategies, or optimizing for long-term equity. They also monitor the performance of the home as a real estate investment and can help determine when it’s the best time to acquire, hold onto, or sell a property in a specific local market.  

Is there a need for both asset management and property management?

While you can certainly get away with just one of these services (or even none, if you take on self-management yourself), there are huge benefits to having help in managing your property as both a financial asset and rental home. 

Property management is an obvious choice for rental property investors. If the property is well-maintained and cared for by quality, trustworthy residents you can retain the home’s value and minimize vacancy periods. 

But when it comes to maximizing the returns on your investment, homeowners who use a real estate asset manager can realize higher profits and stronger portfolio growth. 

This is because asset managers are finance professionals that keep a close eye on ever-evolving market trends. With a solid understanding of the economic climate and latest predictions, they can help homeowners to stay responsive, acting fast to mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunities. 

This is different to getting broad financial advice too. Your home is not the same as the next investor’s and your financial objectives are unique to your personal situation. A good real estate asset manager can take your goals and circumstances into account, providing guidance on what can benefit you and your family specifically. 

Even if you’re an ‘accidental investor’ and have inherited your home, an asset manager can take a practical approach and examine all angles to determine how best to manage financial decisions on what to do with the property. 

Belong looks after your property as both an asset and a home

If you partner with Belong you will have all the benefits of a property manager and asset manager — plus a whole lot more. Belong isn’t a property management company, but a complete residential network and service that goes above and beyond for homeowners and their residents. 

These unexpected perks (that you won’t get from a traditional property manager) include having a highly qualified asset manager on staff. 

Our experienced asset manager has managed over a billion dollars in real estate assets on behalf of institutional clients — a service now available to everyday rental property investors who partner with Belong. With in-house asset management, Belong homeowners can run the numbers on their own property (or properties) and get expert assistance navigating strategic decisions to meet personal financial goals. 

And because you can also access Belong’s dedicated team of real estate and maintenance professionals, your home will always attract the best price and the best residents when it’s on the rental market. 

Discover the difference between Belong vs property management

Asset management is just one of the many ways Belong is eclipsing the old-school property management model. Our homeowners also enjoy a unique hospitality experience that includes guaranteed rent, a 24/7 concierge service, access to employed tradespeople, and 66% less vacancy. All without hidden property management fees and scary markups. 

Learn more and find out if your home is eligible at belong.com/homeowners.

If you're looking for the best app for landlords, we've got one better: a people-powered app to manage your rental home with real maintenance & finance options

The Belong App Just Got a Smart, People-Powered Upgrade

Attention homeowners, the Belong app got a major upgrade just for you. The same app that your residents use to log requests and pay their rent can now be used to manage your homes, directly from your smartphone. 

We are pleased to announce that the Belong app now serves everyone in our residential network, with new homeowner features launching this month. 



When your home is on Belong, you can use the app to login and manage your home on any Apple or Android device. 

Keep up with the marketing of your home and view your online listings

Track your rental income and monthly earnings

Get updates on your home and residents directly in the app 

View your lease agreements and information on your residents

Review and approve repairs from our vetted in-house Belong Pros

Make instant requests for upgrades, repairs or removalist services

Plan your future cash flow with Belong’s finance options

And if you need further assistance, you can also chat to your concierge, available 24/7 in the app. 

Access resident and homeowner features from the app 

Sometimes our residents are homeowners too! Whether you want to pay your rent for a home you love or manage repairs on a home you own, simply switch profiles to access the services you need. 

Belong’s app is NOT just an “app for landlords”

If you’ve ever searched through the long lists of “best apps for landlords” you’ll notice there’s a common theme. These apps are designed for property managers, not homeowners. 

What’s the difference? Well, property management is hard work and not every homeowner wants to take on the heavy lifting of self-management (like being permanently on-call if things go wrong!). Apps designed for landlords generally have a bunch of features that support the administration of owning a rental property — but you’re still in for a lot of hard work. 

Belong’s app is designed for homeowners. People who want good residents living in their home, without any extra stress. 

What makes the Belong App’s homeowner features different is its people-power. When you make a request on the Belong app, a real person will take care of the job for you. Whether you need something repaired or upgraded or want to view the photoshoots of your home listing — behind every feature is a vetted professional making your life easier.

Managing your rental home with an app has never been easier. Because with Belong, you’re not doing the work —  just calling the shots.

Download the Belong App from the App Store or Google Play

The only finger you need to lift is the one that’s going to push the download button in your Apple or Android store. 

Not yet a Belong member? We serve Los Angeles, Miami, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and many more. Check here to see if your home is eligible. 

We asked our resident Asset Manager, Jon Martin, to weigh in on the topic of acquiring rental property in 2022

Is Now a Good Time To Be Acquiring a Rental Property?

You asked, we answered. During our recent webinar conversation on rising interest rates and its impact on the American housing market, homeowners asked us “Is now a good time to buy a rental property?”. And if you have already acquired or inherited a home eligible for the rental market, should you hang onto it or sell? 

There are a lot of mixed messages out in the housing market right now, with many economists torn on whether we’re in for a crash in prices as interest rates and inflation shoot up. 

To help those who are thinking about buying a home for the rental market, we asked our resident Asset Manager, Jon Martin from JDM Asset Management, to weigh in on the topic.

Is now a good time to buy a rental property in the US?

What is tough news for many Americans grappling with inflation, can be positive for rental property owners, with the hot rental market likely to intensify further. 

“At higher interest rates, fewer prospective homebuyers will qualify for mortgages (or at a lesser dollar amount) and will instead choose to keep renting. Rising rental demand will further push rents up – we’re actually already seeing that, with median nationwide rent passing $2,000 for the first time ever in May,” explains Jon. 

If you are looking at acquiring a property for rent, Jon notes that now is a good time to keep a watchful eye for opportunities and price-drops in your desired neighborhoods, as less competition provides some welcome relief to house hunters. 

“While you’ll have to factor in a higher cost of capital when analyzing your next opportunity, the recent upward pressures on rents and the likelihood of locating an attractive single family rental are creating a more attractive market for acquisitions,” says Jon. 

“Another point to consider when looking to acquire a rental, for those sitting on cash, is a higher down payment than say the standard 20% to reduce your exposure to higher interest rates,” he adds. “This will only help when running the numbers to see if your rental income will cover your operating expenses and mortgage payments,” says Jon. 

Watch now: Catch the full webinar conversation here.

Tax advantages of holding rental property 

Jon also reminds homeowners that in addition to favorable rental pricing in the current market, there are also tax advantages to holding rental property. 

“You have the ability to depreciate the physical structure of the home and the cost of any property improvements, along with deducting most expenses related to operating a rental. So all in all, the picture can still look quite good for the acquisition of rental homes,” Jon explains. 

Learn more: Tax Strategies for Rental Investors: 5 Ways To Make A Home Less Taxing

Should I sell my home or put it on the rental market?

If you have (or have recently acquired) a property, the next logical question is should I keep it and put it on the rental market, or is it time to sell?

Jon says that if you have a rental property, it’s hard to make the case for selling it in the current market, especially with rental yields tipped to improve. Rising interest rates are impacting demand in many neighborhoods, so you may not get the price you were hoping for as potential buyers look for bargains or hold off to see what the market does next. 

“With rents expected to continue rising, the outlook for holding rental property has never been better — especially if you already locked in cheap debt on the property when the interest rates were low,” explains Jon. 

Maximize the value of your rental property with Belong

Belong looks after your property as both an asset and a home. Our homeowners get unexpected perks that you won’t get from a traditional property manager, including access to a highly qualified asset manager on staff. 

With in-house asset management, Belong homeowners can run the numbers on their own property (or properties) and get expert assistance navigating strategic decisions to meet personal financial goals. 

And because you can also access Belong’s dedicated team of real estate and maintenance professionals, your home will always attract the best price and the best residents when it’s on the rental market. All without hidden property management fees and scary markups. 

Learn more and find out if your home is eligible at belonghome.com/homeowners.

Is now a good time to buy a rental property? We asked our resident Asset Manager, Jon Martin, to weigh in on the topic of acquiring rental property in 2022

Belong

Melanie Kershaw

Jill Jaracz

Tyler Infelise

Andrea Vale

Jordan Newsom

Melanie Kershaw

Jill Jaracz

Tyler Infelise

Andrea Vale

Jordan Newsom