How to Obtain Foreclosure Listings
Banks and other lenders have the right of foreclosure throughout the United States. Each state requires lenders or a foreclosure trustee to post some type of public notice for foreclosures. Potential buyers should learn how to obtain required foreclosure listings in the various states and counties that run foreclosure auctions. Lenders can also bid on and buy the property which it financed and then sell the foreclosure on the open market. Buyers can access several online sources to find foreclosure listings of real estate owned and sold directly by lenders.
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Instructions
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Check for foreclosure listings at the local county clerk. Small counties and even many large counties do not necessarily provide foreclosure listings. However, places like Dallas County, Texas maintain a public database of foreclosure notices. Places like Miami-Dade County, Florida provide listings and even conduct foreclosure auctions online. In some counties, you may have to visit the office to see a list of scheduled foreclosure sales.
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Check newspapers in counties where you would like to bid on foreclosed real estate. States that require a newspaper notice for foreclosure auctions generally require the lender to advertise the foreclosure listing three or four times. For example, lenders in Oklahoma must publish foreclosure auctions once a week for four straight weeks, starting at least 30 days before the sale. Check daily to avoid potentially missing certain listings. Use online newspaper directories to find foreclosure listings in newspapers. USNPL provides links to online newspapers throughout the United States. 50states also lists newspapers in each state that have online versions.
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Open the WatchForeclosure "Foreclosed Homes Search" page. In addition to auction listings, WatchForeclosure has listings of bank-owned foreclosed homes and government-owned foreclosures. Select a state. You may search an entire state or find foreclosure listings by county and even city. You may also include a price range and other details if you have a specific house size in mind. Click on the address in the foreclosure search results to get more details. If a house is on the open market, you will see contact information for a listing agent.
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Select a state on the "Free Foreclosure Listings" map on the FreeForeclosureBlog website. Choose a city on the individual state page. You can then see city foreclosure listings. Look at each listing to get contact information for the real estate agent in charge of selling that foreclosed home.
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Tips & Warnings
The specific office that provides foreclosure listings generally depends on state law. Although county clerks generally deal with foreclosures, some states use a different system. For example, each Colorado county has a public trustee you may visit to obtain foreclosure listings. Connecticut even provides an updated list of pending foreclosures throughout the entire state.
You should always check the chain of title of real estate before bidding on it at auction or buying it from an agent. Professional title searchers can find any liens or other legal issues that may cause problems after purchase of a foreclosed property.
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