As with any other investment, there are pros and cons to buying a foreclosed property. In addition, just like any other investment, you need to do your homework well, if you intend to make profit.

The Pros

1.Low Cost - The most obvious advantage is that you are buying a distressed real estate that has to be resold because of an unfortunate financial situation. Therefore, they usually cost lower than the prevailing property rates in the traditional real estate market. Foreclosed property, at times, sells for 20% to 50% below its true market value, a modest discount of 5% to 10% is however, generally always present.

2.Variety of financing options - When banks sell foreclosures, they intend to sell the property quickly and therefore; they offer very flexible financing options to the buyers.

3.Profitability - The very fact that you bought a property at a rate lower than the one prevailing in the market, you have a certain opportunity to make and/or save money. Most buyers can expect to make a handsome profit by reselling the property after some minor repair work and sprucing up.

4. No move-in delays - Most of the time, a foreclosed property is vacant and the buyer can immediately move-in, without having to wait for the previous owners to move out.

The Cons

1.Huge capital requirements - The major disadvantage of buying a real estate foreclosure is that since the banks would want to recover their money quickly, the buyer should be in a position to part with a large amount of capital in a short time.

2.Unpaid dues - A foreclosed property usually has unpaid dues, like the property tax, attached with it. Consider this angle before buying such real estate.

3.Condition of the house - The condition of the house being bought and the repairs it is going to need should be one of the major considerations, as it will add to the cost of the property for the buyer.