OREO — other real estate owned, also called REO — is property a lender takes ownership of through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu when a loan defaults. It is a non-earning, classified asset carried at the lower of cost or fair value, and its taxes, insurance, and maintenance hit non-interest expense each period.
OREO is costly to hold: it earns nothing, ties up capital, and bleeds expense while it sits, which is why lenders move to sell it. See the OREO carrying-cost calculator and selling lender-owned real estate.
Yes — OREO (other real estate owned) is the bank-regulatory term; REO (real estate owned) is the same concept used more broadly.
Regulations generally limit the holding period (commonly up to five years for national banks, with conditions), and carrying costs and write-down risk accrue the whole time.
Standing Bid Capital buys lender-owned commercial real estate directly, all-cash. Request a confidential review.