Chattanooga: Houses hit auction block 11 distressed properties in foreclosure

Eleven foreclosed homes are being auctioned this week in the tri-state area.

“Foreclosure auctions are attracting more first-time buyers and those looking for larger homes because they can purchase homes at incredibly affordable prices,” Dave Webb, a principal at auctioneer Hudson & Marshall, said in a statement.

Today’s auction will be at 7 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 3641 Cummings Highway in Lookout Valley. The Wednesday auction will be at 11 a.m. at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 715 College Drive in Dalton, Ga. One Scottsboro, Ala., property will be auctioned at 11 a.m. Central time on Thursday at Hampton Inn, 2041 Beltline Road, Decatur, Ala. Registrations for the auctions start an hour before the auction.

Buyers will have to make a $2,500 deposit in cash, cashier’s check or certified funds for each purchase, said Crystal Wright, a spokeswoman for Hudson & Marshall. Homes are sold as-is. There are no starting bids, but the properties have a reserve, or minimum value the owners want, she said. The owners are banks and asset managers, she said.

“The sellers ultimately have final say to accept or reject or counter,” Ms. Wright said. “But that shouldn’t scare people going in. The reality of the situation is most offers will be approved. The sellers have gotten very attuned to the market. They don’t want to continue to hold these loans.”

Buyers will receive title insurance, Ms. Wright said.

Further auction and property details are available online at hudsonandmarshall.com.

Foreclosures can be prevented, but real estate agents, government entities and lenders need to work together to help homeowners restructure their mortgage terms, said Cindy Walker, director of Crye-Leike Realtors’ foreclosure division.

The first step is for the homeowner to talk to the lender, she said. A 2007 survey by the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development showed that 80 percent of foreclosed-on homeowners never talked to their lenders, said Ms. Walker, who has two foreclosed houses for sale in the auction.