Expert Q&A for How to Find Out If a Home Is In Foreclosure

You can check with the county auditor or recorder or clerk's office to see if there has been a notice of default filed or a lis pendens if it is going to be a judicial foreclosure. If the lender is serious about foreclosing, they must do this first. If they have not done this then they are more likely to be actively working with the homeowner for a potential loan remodification and sometimes notices of default get filed over and over especially when the balance owing is paid but then it is in arrears again. Some title companies provide this service to investors who request it, some online companies may provide this service for a fee, and finally driving around the neighborhood and looking for notices posted to the doors or online auction sites will show pending foreclosures upcoming.

Most foreclosures are listed in the real estate MLS and you can request to be put on a notification list from REALTORS who specialize in foreclosures and there are many other websites online that publish foreclosures. A regular search engine online will bring up links to websites that publish foreclosures. Some charge money but it is not necessary to pay anything if you work with a REALTOR, as you can get it for free. Some title companies also offer this service.

After a foreclosure, the county record will show the current owner on their website. If it has not been stated yet, the county or title company can be contacted for this information.

A foreclosure is a public record and so is a preforeclosure. A title company and numerous other companies and individuals keep tabs on properties that go into a default on the mortgage. Before a property can go into foreclosure, certain state laws must be adhered to according to notifying the person holding the mortgage along with the general public. There are different laws in each state concerning the requirements for notification before a property can be foreclosed on.

It depends on how title was taken when the property was purchased. The situation will vary depending upon whether it is joint tenancy, tenants in common, or some other type of ownership. This will determine whether you will own 100% or whether their share is inherited or willed. You would need a real estate attorney or probate attorney to sort that out if it is not known. There are different tax implications depending on how title was taken as well.

The county the home is located in should have a record of the pending foreclosure. Realtors have access to records that have notice of auction, and the title companies do as well. If there is a foreclosure pending, the home would have posted notices on it at the beginning of the foreclosure period, notifying occupants of the pending sale.