We just added a new feature to kevinhowe.com, the ability to view bank-owned foreclosures online. The searches are organized by price-point and contain all the of bank-owned (REO) properties listed in the Des Moines MLS. This includes Des Moines and the surrounding areas. You can browse the listings and get more information on opportunities to purchase foreclosure homes here:

Des Moines Foreclosure Properties

We are happy to be able to offer this capability as a reliable means of identifying REO homes for sale. If you perform a Google search for Des Moines foreclosures, you will find many companies that claim to offer similiar properties. Unfortunantely the information is often out of date or unreliable.

The homes are segmented by price into two groups, those listed below $100,000 and those listed below $100,000.

Feel free to browse the listings. If you would like to get new foreclosure listings forwarded to you via email the same day they are listed just contact me and let me know which areas and price-ranges you are most interested in.

As the Des Moines real estate market continues to pick up steam, one of the questions that gets asked frequently is “Where are the best buys?”. Typically when most people think of bargains, they think short sales and foreclosures. While there are a lot of these properties available ( and will continue to be for the foreseeable future ) there is another overlooked area – unfinished new construction properties.  I have seen a number of these over the past few weeks that are being offered at well below the cost to build a similar home.

Most of these homes are technically foreclosures or short sales and in most cases you end up negotiating with a lending institution. However unlike traditional foreclosures you have an opportunity to purchase a home in new condition.

In the Des Moines metro area most of these homes are priced in the $300,000+ price range and are in various stages of construction. In almost every case the homes are enclosed and secured with the exteriors completely to partially finished. On the interior they could be just through framing stage all the way to almost completed and just require floor coverings, counter-tops etc.

The options for completing construction vary depending on the specific property. On some homes the builder is willing to complete construction and close just like any other transaction. In other cases the buyer would be responsible for getting a construction loan and hiring a contractor to finish the project. In this case there is additional effort required by any potential buyer to secure financing, get estimates and hire a contractor.

If you are interested in receiving  more information or exploring the possibilities, please let me know.