Foreclosures
Foreclosures by county
Short answer: every foreclosure leaves a public trail, from the first filing to the auction, but where that trail sits depends on the state. This section covers 3,143 counties in all 50 states and DC: whether the state forecloses in court or by trustee sale, how long it takes, where the filings are recorded, and the ranked list of owners in pre-foreclosure in each county.
Counties covered
3,143
Every county, parish and independent city in the US.
Judicial vs non-judicial
21 / 27
Plus 3 states that use both. DC counts as a state here.
Fastest to slowest
1 to 30+ months
Typical uncontested range from first filing to sale.
Pick your state
How each state forecloses, what the auction is called, and how long it typically takes.
| State | Process | The auction | Typical timeline | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Non-judicial | Public auction | 1 to 3 months | 67 |
| Alaska | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 3 to 4 months | 30 |
| Arizona | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 3 to 4 months | 15 |
| Arkansas | Judicial and non-judicial | Public auction | 3 to 5 months | 75 |
| California | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 6 months | 58 |
| Colorado | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 6 months | 64 |
| Connecticut | Judicial | Public auction | 6 to 12 months | 8 |
| Delaware | Judicial | sheriff sale | 6 to 9 months | 3 |
| District of Columbia | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 8 months | 1 |
| Florida | Judicial | Public auction | 8 to 14 months | 67 |
| Georgia | Non-judicial | Public auction | 1 to 2 months | 159 |
| Hawaii | Judicial | Public auction | 12 to 24 months | 5 |
| Idaho | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 6 months | 44 |
| Illinois | Judicial | sheriff sale | 9 to 15 months | 102 |
| Indiana | Judicial | sheriff sale | 5 to 9 months | 92 |
| Iowa | Judicial | sheriff sale | 5 to 12 months | 99 |
| Kansas | Judicial | sheriff sale | 4 to 8 months | 105 |
| Kentucky | Judicial | Public auction | 5 to 9 months | 120 |
| Louisiana | Judicial | sheriff sale | 2 to 6 months | 64 |
| Maine | Judicial | Public auction | 6 to 12 months | 16 |
| Maryland | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 7 months | 24 |
| Massachusetts | Non-judicial | Public auction | 3 to 6 months | 14 |
| Michigan | Non-judicial | sheriff sale | 2 to 3 months | 83 |
| Minnesota | Non-judicial | sheriff sale | 2 to 4 months | 87 |
| Mississippi | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 2 to 3 months | 82 |
| Missouri | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 2 to 3 months | 115 |
| Montana | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 5 to 6 months | 56 |
| Nebraska | Judicial and non-judicial | trustee sale | 3 to 6 months | 93 |
| Nevada | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 6 months | 17 |
| New Hampshire | Non-judicial | Public auction | 2 to 4 months | 10 |
| New Jersey | Judicial | sheriff sale | 12 to 24 months | 21 |
| New Mexico | Judicial | Public auction | 6 to 12 months | 33 |
| New York | Judicial | Public auction | 15 to 30+ months | 62 |
| North Carolina | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 3 to 5 months | 100 |
| North Dakota | Judicial | sheriff sale | 4 to 8 months | 53 |
| Ohio | Judicial | sheriff sale | 6 to 12 months | 88 |
| Oklahoma | Judicial and non-judicial | sheriff sale | 4 to 7 months | 77 |
| Oregon | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 6 months | 36 |
| Pennsylvania | Judicial | sheriff sale | 9 to 15 months | 67 |
| Rhode Island | Non-judicial | Public auction | 2 to 4 months | 5 |
| South Carolina | Judicial | Public auction | 5 to 9 months | 46 |
| South Dakota | Judicial | sheriff sale | 4 to 9 months | 66 |
| Tennessee | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 2 to 3 months | 95 |
| Texas | Non-judicial | trustee sale | about 2 months | 254 |
| Utah | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 4 to 5 months | 29 |
| Vermont | Judicial | Public auction | 7 to 12 months | 14 |
| Virginia | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 2 to 3 months | 133 |
| Washington | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 5 to 7 months | 39 |
| West Virginia | Non-judicial | trustee sale | 2 to 4 months | 55 |
| Wisconsin | Judicial | sheriff sale | 8 to 14 months | 72 |
| Wyoming | Non-judicial | Public auction | 2 to 4 months | 23 |
Informational summary, not legal advice. Timelines are typical uncontested ranges and change with law and court backlogs.
The largest counties
By Census population. Every other county is one click away on its state page.
Foreclosure FAQ
What is a pre-foreclosure?
It is the period between the first public foreclosure filing and the auction. The owner is behind on the mortgage and the lender has started the process, but the owner still holds title and can sell, catch up or negotiate. Because the filing is public, pre-foreclosure owners can be identified and contacted before the sale.
What is the difference between a sheriff sale and a trustee sale?
A sheriff sale is usually the end of a court foreclosure: after judgment, the county sheriff auctions the property. A trustee sale ends a non-judicial foreclosure: the trustee named in a deed of trust auctions it under a power of sale, without a lawsuit. Which one applies depends on the state, and each state page says which.
How do I find foreclosures in my county?
The filings are public: court dockets and lis pendens in judicial states, recorded or published notices in non-judicial ones, plus the notices of sale. Pick your state and county below for where those records sit, or scan any ZIP on LowBaller to see owners in pre-foreclosure and at auction ranked in one list.
Can I buy a house before the foreclosure auction?
Yes. Until the sale the owner holds title and can sell, and a sale that pays off the loan stops the foreclosure. Buying direct lets you inspect and run title, which the auction rarely allows, and an owner with equity keeps the difference instead of losing it at the sale.
How long does foreclosure take?
It depends almost entirely on the state. Fast non-judicial states can go from first notice to sale in one to three months; slow judicial states take a year or more. Of the 50 states and DC, 21 foreclose mainly in court, 27 mainly by power of sale and 3 use both.
Keep going
The filing is public. The owner is reachable. The auction is not until later.
LowBaller ranks pre-foreclosure and auction owners in any ZIP, with a suggested opening offer on each. The scan is free.
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