Why are foreclosure property information not free of some sort of charge?

Question

On the world wide web there are no absolutely free foreclosure property listings. Every place i have been i have to pay for a membership. There has to be a free listing service somewhere.

Answer 1

Foreclosure information is directly available from the government. Check your local bankruptcy court and banks that have properties in foreclosure.

Answer 2

The information is not free because Realtors make no money on Foreclosures.

People love to look at homes on the internet but forget who actually inputed all the information for them to look at those listings.

Finding Foreclosure information is work.

You have to go down to your local courthouse and look through the "Lis Pendes" files.

Most people have a full time job and cannot go and take half a day a week to do this.

That's why http://www.RealtyTrac.com is so popular.

P.S. People who complain about paying someone to collect the information usually do not have all cash to pay for a home in foreclosure.

You DON'T have the luxury of talking to a lender and doing all the inspections on a foreclosure.

When they sell them on the courthouse steps you normally have 24-48 hours to come up with the cash.

Not even hard money lenders can work that fast. If you do not have the cash to buy a foreclosure then forget about it.

Answer 3

There are free listings. The problem is you'll have to work to get the information. You'll need to visit (in person) a number of local government agencies to find it or work with a real estate agent that specialize in foreclosure.

Answer 4

No, there doesn't have to be a free listing. That's how the listing services make money. Even at the government records department you'll probably pay for a print copy if you want one.

Answer 5

if you're searching for foreclosure homes in Southern California, then you may attempt foreclosure Babble. they provide free listings and foreclosure homes concepts! No mastercard is critical! threat free!

Answer 6

There are individual sites for foreclosure information here are just a few
[ ] REAL ESTATE FOR SALE BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA):
http://www.resales.usda.gov/

[ ] Real Estate for Sale by US Government Site #1
http://www.firstgov.gov/shopping/realestate/realestate.shtml

[ ] Site #2 http://www.homesales.gov/homesales/mainAction.do

[ ] IRS: Real & Personal Property Sales: http://www.ustreas.gov/auctions/irs/

[ ] Acquiring a VA guaranteed home foreclosed by states: http://www.ocwen.com/reo/residential/res_reofindbystate.cfm?proptype=VA

[ ] Foreclosure requirement by HUD guaranteed loans: http://www.hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/nph-brs.cgi?d=MLET&s1=90-$%5Bno%5D&op1=AND&SECT1=TXTHLB&SECT5=MLET&p=1&r=39&f=G

[ ] Homes and properties being sold by the different departments in US Government:
http://www.hud.gov/homes/homesforsale.cfm

[ ] USDA Properties for sale all states
http://www.resales.usda.gov/sfhdirect/sfh_prop_main.cfm

GSA Government Auctions on personal property
http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/gsaauctions/

GSA Government Auctions on a State by State basis (personal Property)
http://www.surplussales.gsa.gov/

FORECLOSED PROPERTIES BY PRIVATE LENDERS

Chase Bank foreclosures
http://mortgage.chase.com/pages/other/co_properties_landing.jsp
Country Wide foreclosures
http://www.countrywide.com/purchase/f_reo.asp
Bank of America foreclosures
http://bankofamerica.reo.com/search/
Regions Bank foreclosures
http://www.regions.com/personal_banking/property_for_sale.rf
NationStar Mortgage
http://www.nationstarmtg.com/Realtors/FindAHome.aspx?state=ALL

Answer 7

If you go to your local county tax assessor office, they keep that info in a book in the lobby for anyone to look at. I don't know how to check other areas though, unless you want to name a county and see if they have a website.

Answer 8

Even the sites you pay for are notoriously inaccurate. Don't waste the money.