Why do you have to pay for foreclosure listings?

Question

Does anyone know why places charge for foreclosure listings?  Is there a place to get a free foreclosure listing for Westchester County NY?

Howard Walter · Answer

Folks I have been doing this for
30 Plus years and those pay for
services do not contain all of the
foreclosures believe me I am 
that old grummpy guy down at
records going thru every listing.
And be careful some of these
services you pay for the listings
are owned by RE investment firms
who take out some of the best
ones get my drift...............yeah
believe me I have seen it.
You want the real stuff get it
yourself..................when you are
putting over $100k down on a 
auction better get it right from 
the Ole horses mouth ie county
records.

SKI

Mike Matthews · Answer

They charge for one simple reason, idiots pay.

Simon Campbell · Answer

Time is also money. Checking county records is one way to do all the research yourself - but it will take time. Membership databases of foreclosures, REOs and auction properties is one way to get a vast majority of these listings all in one spot. Yes, occasionally they will miss a few but why not start with the easiest route and then if you do not find what you want, turn to the more time demanding one.

Pat L. · Answer

I agree with @Howard Walter as we have some very astute grumpy old guys we deal with at the County office :)

This FREE one EmailForeclosures.com has been a good source for us & we used it for a couple of good deals. However, I don't know if they are in your area but check into it.

But you can't beat boots on the ground.

Rich Livingston · Answer

Not sure if you're looking for pre-foreclosures or reo's. Can't help you on pre-foreclosures, but if you're looking for a free reo list, try emailforeclosures.com . Others are just free trials, these guys are not.

Robert Hughes · Answer

Great! Thank you very much for the help Jon!

Jon Holdman · Answer

Try the county recorder's web site, if there is one.  You can almost always go in and get them for free or for just a copying charge.  My county lets you get individual information for specific properties, but charges a fee if you want a list of all filings each week.  There are also local services that do it for all the counties in our area, again for a charge.  The charge covers the labor for people to get these listings, aggregate them, and send them to you.

Jon Holdman · Answer

Oh by the way New York State Office of Real Property Services from Bigger Pockets New York county records list.

Why do you have to pay for foreclosure listings?

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