Here's something you might be wondering: What's the difference between an REO property and a short sale?

An REO property is one that has already gone through foreclosure and is currently owned by the bank, which is trying to sell it to a buyer.

A short sale is a real estate transaction that takes place when an owner owes more on the mortgage than the house is currently worth and the bank agrees to a sale for less than the full mortgage balance in order to avoid foreclosure. A property involved in a short sale is not bank owned.

The number of short sale transactions has increased in recent years, and you're likely to run into homes like this on the market as you view properties. As with REOs, short sales can be complicated.

TIP

Despite what you may hear on TV, buying foreclosures is not a get-rich-quick scenario. REOs can offer a way to buy property at below-market prices, but the process is different than an average home sale.