Foreclosures · KY

Kentucky foreclosures by county

Short answer: Kentucky forecloses through the courts, and the process ends at a foreclosure auction, typically 5 to 9 months after the first filing. Filings are recorded in each county's land records office (the recorder, register of deeds or clerk, depending on the county). Below is every Kentucky county, each with its own page on pre-foreclosure filings, the foreclosure auction and the owners to reach before it.

Counties covered

120

Each with its own foreclosure page.

Process

Judicial

Ends at a foreclosure auction.

After the sale

Limited, conditional

6 months, but only if the property sells for less than two thirds of appraised value.

Every Kentucky county

Largest first, by Census population.

CountyCounty seatPopulation
Jefferson County foreclosuresLouisville782,000
Fayette County foreclosuresLexington322,000
Kenton County foreclosuresCovington169,000
Warren County foreclosuresBowling Green137,000
Boone County foreclosuresBurlington135,000
Hardin County foreclosuresElizabethtown112,000
Daviess County foreclosures104,457
Madison County foreclosures99,582
Campbell County foreclosures94,008
Bullitt County foreclosures85,802
Christian County foreclosures71,006
Oldham County foreclosures70,525
McCracken County foreclosures67,550
Pulaski County foreclosures66,842
Laurel County foreclosures63,353
Scott County foreclosures61,700
Jessamine County foreclosures56,495
Pike County foreclosures55,430
Franklin County foreclosures52,442
Shelby County foreclosures50,124
Nelson County foreclosures48,706
Boyd County foreclosures47,777
Barren County foreclosures45,609
Hopkins County foreclosures45,218
Henderson County foreclosures44,175
Calloway County foreclosures38,975
Clark County foreclosures37,673
Whitley County foreclosures37,233
Graves County foreclosures36,821
Greenup County foreclosures35,273
Floyd County foreclosures34,532
Marshall County foreclosures31,734
Boyle County foreclosures31,394
Muhlenberg County foreclosures30,512
Meade County foreclosures30,442
Knox County foreclosures29,657
Montgomery County foreclosures28,771
Logan County foreclosures28,467
Woodford County foreclosures27,728
Grayson County foreclosures27,070
Taylor County foreclosures26,809
Perry County foreclosures26,739
Carter County foreclosures26,098
Grant County foreclosures25,722
Harlan County foreclosures25,052
Lincoln County foreclosures24,910
Anderson County foreclosures24,883
Rowan County foreclosures24,675
Ohio County foreclosures23,933
Mercer County foreclosures23,515
Bell County foreclosures23,051
Johnson County foreclosures22,098
Allen County foreclosures22,037
Breckinridge County foreclosures21,221
Spencer County foreclosures20,823
Simpson County foreclosures20,350
Bourbon County foreclosures20,333
Letcher County foreclosures20,139
Hart County foreclosures19,923
Marion County foreclosures19,851
Wayne County foreclosures19,629
Clay County foreclosures19,592
Harrison County foreclosures19,525
Adair County foreclosures19,239
Russell County foreclosures18,458
Garrard County foreclosures18,040
Mason County foreclosures16,956
McCreary County foreclosures16,824
Rockcastle County foreclosures16,226
Henry County foreclosures16,198
Casey County foreclosures15,948
Lawrence County foreclosures15,798
Fleming County foreclosures15,591
Larue County foreclosures15,128
Pendleton County foreclosures14,844
Trigg County foreclosures14,559
Morgan County foreclosures14,300
Estill County foreclosures14,002
Knott County foreclosures13,438
Jackson County foreclosures13,358
Union County foreclosures13,178
Bath County foreclosures12,951
Powell County foreclosures12,928
Lewis County foreclosures12,875
Webster County foreclosures12,854
Breathitt County foreclosures12,804
Todd County foreclosures12,757
Edmonson County foreclosures12,635
Caldwell County foreclosures12,611
Butler County foreclosures12,551
Washington County foreclosures12,269
Green County foreclosures11,552
Owen County foreclosures11,435
Monroe County foreclosures11,163
Magoffin County foreclosures11,118
Carroll County foreclosures11,111
Martin County foreclosures10,696
Metcalfe County foreclosures10,558
Leslie County foreclosures9,729
Clinton County foreclosures9,183
McLean County foreclosures9,126
Lyon County foreclosures9,078
Hancock County foreclosures9,013
Crittenden County foreclosures8,982
Livingston County foreclosures8,815
Gallatin County foreclosures8,805
Trimble County foreclosures8,591
Bracken County foreclosures8,497
Nicholas County foreclosures7,816
Ballard County foreclosures7,626
Lee County foreclosures7,313
Elliott County foreclosures7,263
Wolfe County foreclosures6,364
Menifee County foreclosures6,341
Fulton County foreclosures6,282
Cumberland County foreclosures6,047
Carlisle County foreclosures4,777
Hickman County foreclosures4,393
Owsley County foreclosures3,928
Robertson County foreclosures2,382

Kentucky foreclosure at a glance

The essentials for finding and working foreclosures. The full process, owner rights and law detail are in the Kentucky foreclosure laws guide.

Kentucky foreclosure reference
ProcessJudicial. Every residential foreclosure runs through the courts.
The auctionA public foreclosure auction, run by the officer state law assigns and named in the notice of sale.
Typical timeline5 to 9 months from first filing to sale, uncontested.
Where filings are recordedIn each county's land records office (the recorder, register of deeds or clerk, depending on the county).
Redemption6 months, but only if the property sells for less than two thirds of appraised value.
DeficiencyAllowed.
DefaultMissed payments anda breach letterCase filedComplaint filed andlis pendens recordedJudgmentThe court orders theproperty soldAuctionThe winning biddertakes the property
The Kentucky foreclosure sequence: typically 5 to 9 months from first filing to the foreclosure auction, uncontested. Master Commissioner sales handle the auctions county by county.

Kentucky foreclosure FAQ

Where are Kentucky foreclosure filings recorded?

The lis pendens is recorded in each county's land records office (the recorder, register of deeds or clerk, depending on the county), and the case itself sits on the docket of the court that hears it. The deed after the sale is recorded in the same place. Each county page below says where to look and what each document shows.

Are Kentucky foreclosure auctions sheriff sales or trustee sales?

Neither name fits exactly. Kentucky auctions are run by whoever state law assigns to the process, and the published notice of sale names that officer along with the date, time, place and terms. Search the county page for where those notices appear.

How do I get a Kentucky pre-foreclosure list?

Counties record the filings but rarely publish them as a list. Pre-foreclosure lists are compiled from those records. LowBaller covers all 120 Kentucky counties: scan any ZIP to see owners in pre-foreclosure and at auction, ranked by how close the foreclosure auction is and how much equity they hold.

How long do Kentucky owners have before the foreclosure auction?

Typically 5 to 9 months from the first filing, uncontested. Master Commissioner sales handle the auctions county by county. During that time the owner keeps title and can sell, which is why the weeks after a filing are when a private offer matters most.

Can I buy a Kentucky home before the foreclosure auction?

Yes, from the owner directly. Until the foreclosure auction the owner holds title, so a sale that pays off the loan stops the foreclosure. You can inspect and run title, which the auction rarely allows, and an owner with equity keeps the difference instead of losing it at the sale.

Keep going

See who is in pre-foreclosure in your Kentucky county today.

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Informational summary, not legal advice. Foreclosure process, timelines, redemption and deficiency rules are summarized at the state level and change by statute and court rule. The published notice of sale controls every date and term. Homeowners facing foreclosure should speak with an attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor.