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You may have gone by a house and saw the orange stickers on the front door or windows. You looked at the sign stating this was a HUD homes for sale. It also said to contact a local real estate agent.

You looked around the property and thought this is what you have been looking for as a home for yourself or as an investment. The problem is you have not brought a HUD home for sale or you really don't know what they are.

To begin with HUD homes for sale are HUD foreclosed homes. They are homes that have been financed by an FHA loan and the loan has gone into foreclosure. The HUD foreclosed home has been assigned to a Marketing and Management Contractor to service and market the property.

There are a lot of interest in HUD homes for sale by both home buyers and investors. They also are lot of mistakes made in buying HUD foreclosed homes. I am going to list 5 common mistakes made buying HUD homes for sale.

1. Finding a Real Estate Agent. I am listing this mistake in buying a HUD foreclosed home first because I think it is the most common and the most costly mistake. You probably think all you have to do is called any real estate agent or one that you have used in the past. It is my opinion that 95% of real estate agents have not sold a HUD home for sale or worst yet; most real estate agents don't even know what one is. Buying a HUD home for sale is not anything like buying a home from a home owner. You need to search for a real estate agent that is experienced in HUD homes for sale.

2. Paying too much for the HUD Foreclosed Home. The HUD home for sale is listed at what HUD calls 'Fair Market Value.' It has been appraised by a FHA appraiser. My experience has been that the list price of a HUD foreclosed home is within 20% of market value either too low or too high. Again that is another reason you need an experienced real estate agent in HUD foreclosed homes. The agent should do a Competitive Market Analysis of the property. An experienced agent also will be able to determine the lowest bid that HUD will take for the property.

3. Inspection. You should have an independent inspection done on the property. Most HUD homes sale will have what HUD calls a 'Property Condition Report.' The Property Condition report is similar to an inspection and it gives you a pretty good idea of the HUD foreclosed home. You still need to have an independent inspection done.

4. Sold 'As-Is' Condition. All HUD homes for sale are sold in 'AS-IS' condition and HUD means AS-IS. They will not do any repairs! So when you make a bid on a HUD home for sale, you should adjust your bid amount to reflect needed repairs.

5. Closing Costs. HUD will pay up to 5% of the purchase price for certain Buyers' closing costs. The 5% must be included in the initial bid and the key word is 'certain' closing costs, not all. Again, I know I am repeating myself, but an experienced real estate agent in HUD foreclosed homes would know which closing costs HUD will pay. For example, your winning bid on a HUD home for sale was $100,000 and you asked HUD to pay 5%($5,000) of your closing costs. HUD will only pay certain closing costs and those closing costs only came to $2,000. You would LOSE $3,000($5,000-$2,000).

Buying HUD Homes for sale can be very profitable if you can eliminate the costly mistakes. Common mistakes that can be avoided by doing some research and finding an experienced real estate agent in selling HUD foreclosed homes.