How To Search and Find Pre Foreclosure Homes Online With RealtyTrac

Here at RealtyTrac we live and breath foreclosure properties – it’s what we do. If you are new to the concept of foreclosure homes, we are here to help you navigate this market.

In this post, we’ll show you how to find a home that is in pre-foreclosure. That is, a home that is yet not being sold on auction but might still be a good buy for you as a real estate investor or home buyer.

We have written hundreds of articles on the topic of finding and buying distressed homes and in this article we’ll take you through a few tips to find pre-foreclosure homes. In addition, we’ll provide guidance around the foreclosure process so that you know what to do next, once you have found a property you are interested in buying.

Let’s jump in!

Methods for Finding Properties in Pre-Foreclosure

The easiest way to find a home is simply by searching for these on our website. Type in your city and set the filters to Pre-Foreclosure.

Our listings are pulled in from public records. One of the most accurate and up-to-date methods for identifying pre-foreclosure properties is through browsing these public records. These come from a variety of reliable sources and browsing our site is easy.

The alternative to using realtytrac.com would be visiting your county recorder’s office to gain access to a database that allows you to search for properties with a notice of default or notice of sale. These notices contain crucial information, including the owner’s contact details, outstanding loan amount, and the associated lender. Visiting the office can be time-consuming and it’s worth noting that while some counties provide online access to these records for a nominal fee, we have this information on RealtyTrac.com

Pros & Cons of Pre-Foreclosure Leads

While pre-foreclosure properties offer enticing opportunities, it is important to consider the pros and cons before investing. This extra education will help you understand what it takes to begin.

Pros:

1. Motivated Sellers: Preforeclosure homeowners are often highly motivated to sell their homes quickly due to financial and legal hardships. This motivation can create opportunities for investors or agents to negotiate favorable deals.
2. Cost Savings: Pre-foreclosure properties typically have a lower price tag than market value. This presents a significant profit potential for real estate investors, allowing them to acquire properties at a discounted price.
3. Opportunity to Help Homeowners: Investing in pre-foreclosure properties provides an opportunity to assist homeowners in relieving their financial and legal burdens. By purchasing their homes, investors can provide a solution to homeowners facing foreclosure and help them start anew.
4. Reduced Competition: Unlike properties on the open market, pre-foreclosure listings often have fewer potential buyers or agents competing for them. This reduced competition increases the chances of securing a desirable property at a favorable price.
   Cons:
5. Property Condition: Many pre-foreclosure properties exhibit poor or distressed conditions. Homeowners facing financial difficulties might have lacked resources to undertake necessary repairs, making these properties less appealing to buyers who require additional investment in renovation.
6. Lengthy Sale Process: Foreclosure properties entail a lengthier sale process compared to traditional real estate transactions. Completion of a foreclosure sale can span from 90 days to several years, contingent upon factors like legal proceedings, lender involvement, and local regulations.
7. Extensive Research Required: Investing in pre-foreclosure properties necessitates meticulous research. Understanding the property’s legal status, outstanding liens, potential risks, and other associated factors is crucial. Achieving this level of due diligence can be time-intensive and may demand professional assistance such as attorneys and real estate agents.
8. Difficulty in Contacting Homeowners: Establishing contact with homeowners in foreclosure can be challenging, leading to communication obstacles and negotiation delays. Moreover, some homeowners may face extenuating circumstances involving additional legal or financial complexities, thus heightening transaction intricacies.

Understanding the Pre-Foreclosure Process

We have a more detailed article on how to buy homes in foreclosure, but here is a quick recap.

Let’s being with an overview of the process which typically unfolds in several phases:

• Payment Default: The initial stage is triggered when a homeowner fails to meet the terms of their mortgage agreement, resulting in a default on payments.
• Notice of Default (NOD): Following the payment default, the lender issues a formal Notice of Default to the homeowner. This document serves as official notification of the breach and the outstanding debt, marking the entry into the pre-foreclosure stage.
• Notice of Trustee’s Sale: If the homeowner fails to rectify the default, the lender issues a Notice of Trustee’s Sale. This notice specifies the date, time, and location of the impending foreclosure auction or sale, where the property will be sold to repay the debt.
• Trustee’s Sale: The Trustee’s Sale is the culmination of the foreclosure process, wherein the actual auction or sale occurs as per the Notice of Trustee’s Sale. Interested buyers can bid on the property, with the highest bidder ultimately securing ownership.
• Real Estate Owned (REO): If the property fails to sell at the foreclosure auction, it becomes Real Estate Owned by the lender. At this point, the lender assumes ownership and may choose to proceed with selling the property through traditional channels.

If you think foreclosure homes are something you would be interested in, register for an account with RealtyTrac.com today to be part of a growing community of informed, disciplined, and guided real estate investors.