By Rent to Own Guide · Published · Updated · How we research
What you'll find
Foreclosure.com lists homes at every stage of foreclosure, plus tax liens. Each one is bought a different way:
- Pre-foreclosures. The owner is behind on the mortgage but still owns the home, so you deal with the owner and sometimes the lender. See what pre-foreclosure means.
- Auctions. The home is sold at a public sale. Buyers usually need cash or certified funds and often can't look inside first.
- Bank-owned homes. The home didn't sell at auction, so the lender took it back. It is usually listed through an agent and sold as-is.
- Short sales. The owner sells for less than the loan balance, and the lender has to approve the price.
- Tax liens. A lien is a claim for unpaid property taxes. Buying one means buying that debt, not the home; the owner keeps the home while the lien can still be repaid (Foreclosure.com). Rules differ by state.
Not sure which fits you? Compare them in pre-foreclosure vs foreclosure.
How alerts work
You pick a city, county or zip code and enter your name and email. Foreclosure.com then emails you when new listings show up there. Set up free alerts. Alerts are free, with no purchase needed (Foreclosure.com), and it says its listings are updated daily (Foreclosure.com). Full listing details need a paid membership. On October 19, 2026 that started with a free 7-day preview that renews at $39.80 a month unless you cancel (Foreclosure.com FAQ).
Before you make an offer
A listing is a lead, not a deal. Confirm the home's status and check the title in county records before you spend money. Our guides show how to find pre-foreclosure homes and check them and buy a pre-foreclosure home step by step.