Sites like Auction.com list upcoming sales.

You may compete against experienced investors and "flippers". 4. Washington Legal Protections

This act provides homeowners with mediation opportunities, which can sometimes delay the availability of a property for purchase.

You buy directly from the homeowner before the auction. This often involves a "short sale" where the lender must agree to accept less than the mortgage balance.

Often sold below market value to recoup lender losses.

For non-judicial foreclosures (the most common type), the sale is final, and the previous owner has no right to buy the home back after the auction. Finding Listings You can find foreclosures through several channels:

Major lenders like Bank of America have dedicated search tools for their own inventories.

Homes may have been neglected or even vandalized.