Getting Pre-Forclosure Info First!

[Tommy Van Ruiten]

I am brand new to real estate investing.

My idea was to network with some local process servers that would be willing give me info on homeowners that are behind on their mortgages.

I would offer a cash "reward" to them on any property I purchase.

Is this idea legal?

If so, would this idea get me to the homeowners before the info would be recorded?

Thanks

[Will Barnard]

It appears that some people are talking about TWO different things here.
We have a 30, 60 or 90 day late mortgage which is PRE- NOD. The NOD is the first notice available to the public.
the 30-90 day lates BEFORE the NOD can only be obtained from credit reporting agencies (unless I am missing something)