See the building before it reaches the courthouse steps.

A distressed property leaves a public paper trail one to three years before its auction. openforeclosure reads that trail from county records, scores every building in the markets you watch, and tells you what changed and who to contact.

1. 1
   Tax notice — the property appears on the city's lien-sale list
2. 2
   Lien sold — the tax lien is sold to a trust
3. 3
   Note sold — the bank sells the mortgage to a debt buyer
4. 4–6
   Filed, judgment, sale noticed — the court case moves toward auction
5. 7–8
   Sold, resold — the referee's deed and what happens next

Starting in New York City

Built on public records only. Long Island is next, then other counties.