Foreclosures-Discounts or not?

I have noticed in the Ada County market, and somewhat in Canyon county as well that foreclosure sales are not always reflecting the discounted prices from regular sales that has been the norm.  This is due to our low inventory levels. This illustrates that buyers need to check values on homes individually not just assume that foreclosures or short sales are ALWAYS the best deals.  I help buyers find the best values in all types of sales.

I am also reprinting a article speaking of this issue nationally.

Foreclosure Discounts Vanishing

Foreclosure discounts have nearly dried up due to low inventory levels, according to the latest housing reports.

The average discount nationwide for foreclosure properties has fallen to 7.7 percent, according to Zillow research. In some parts of the country, there is no foreclosure discount when compared to other sales.

“The smallest foreclosure discount is found in places where competition for homes is so high, people there are willing to pay the same amount for a foreclosure re-sale that they would for a non-distressed home simply to take advantage of historic affordability,” says Stan Humphries, Zillow’s chief economist.

The smallest foreclosure discounts can be found in:

• Las Vegas (0%)


• Phoenix (0%)


• Sacramento, Calif. (0.7%)


• Riverside, Calif. (1.8%)


• San Diego (2.4%)


• Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (2.9%)


• Los Angeles (4.2%)


• San Francisco (4.7%)

Meanwhile, the places with the largest foreclosure discounts are:

• Pittsburgh, Pa. (27.8%)


• Cleveland (25.8%)


• Cincinnati (20.2%)


• Baltimore (20%)


• New York City (15.5%)

Source: “Low Inventory Wipes Out Foreclosure Discount,” Examiner.com (Nov. 18, 2012)