Foreclosures · MT

Montana foreclosures by county

Short answer: Montana forecloses mostly without a court case, and the process ends at a trustee sale, typically 5 to 6 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 Montana county, each with its own page on pre-foreclosure filings, the trustee sale and the owners to reach before it.

Counties covered

56

Each with its own foreclosure page.

Process

Non-judicial

Ends at a trustee sale.

After the sale

None after the sale

None after a trustee sale.

Every Montana county

Largest first, by Census population.

CountyCounty seatPopulation
Yellowstone County foreclosuresBillings165,000
Gallatin County foreclosuresBozeman122,000
Missoula County foreclosuresMissoula119,000
Flathead County foreclosuresKalispell108,000
Cascade County foreclosures84,523
Lewis and Clark County foreclosures75,129
Ravalli County foreclosures48,187
Silver Bow County foreclosures36,134
Lake County foreclosures33,403
Lincoln County foreclosures22,184
Park County foreclosures18,074
Hill County foreclosures16,065
Sanders County foreclosures13,895
Glacier County foreclosures13,503
Jefferson County foreclosures13,304
Big Horn County foreclosures12,796
Custer County foreclosures11,964
Fergus County foreclosures11,862
Carbon County foreclosures11,498
Richland County foreclosures11,028
Roosevelt County foreclosures10,197
Beaverhead County foreclosures10,006
Deer Lodge County foreclosures9,811
Madison County foreclosures9,753
Stillwater County foreclosures9,450
Dawson County foreclosures8,731
Broadwater County foreclosures8,302
Rosebud County foreclosures8,194
Valley County foreclosures7,434
Powell County foreclosures7,120
Blaine County foreclosures6,903
Teton County foreclosures6,444
Pondera County foreclosures6,078
Chouteau County foreclosures5,880
Musselshell County foreclosures5,452
Mineral County foreclosures5,195
Toole County foreclosures5,153
Phillips County foreclosures4,214
Sweet Grass County foreclosures3,757
Granite County foreclosures3,602
Sheridan County foreclosures3,448
Fallon County foreclosures2,946
Judith Basin County foreclosures2,111
Meagher County foreclosures2,065
Wheatland County foreclosures2,058
Liberty County foreclosures1,934
Powder River County foreclosures1,734
McCone County foreclosures1,717
Daniels County foreclosures1,625
Carter County foreclosures1,399
Garfield County foreclosures1,181
Prairie County foreclosures1,112
Wibaux County foreclosures911
Golden Valley County foreclosures863
Treasure County foreclosures739
Petroleum County foreclosures525

Montana foreclosure at a glance

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

Montana foreclosure reference
ProcessNon-judicial. Most run under a power of sale, without a court case.
The auctionA trustee sale, run by the trustee named in the deed of trust.
Typical timeline5 to 6 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).
RedemptionNone after a trustee sale.
DeficiencyBarred after non-judicial sales of small tracts.
DefaultMissed payments anda breach letterNoticeDefault or salenotice recorded orpublishedNotice periodThe owner can stillcure, sell ornegotiateTrustee saleThe winning biddertakes the property
The Montana foreclosure sequence: typically 5 to 6 months from first filing to the trustee sale, uncontested. The Small Tract Financing Act covers most residential deeds of trust.

Montana foreclosure FAQ

Where are Montana foreclosure filings recorded?

Notices of default or sale are recorded in each county's land records office (the recorder, register of deeds or clerk, depending on the county), or published and posted, as state law requires. 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 Montana foreclosure auctions sheriff sales or trustee sales?

Trustee sales. Most Montana home loans are deeds of trust with a power of sale, so a trustee auctions the property under a published notice without a court case. The notice names the trustee, the date and the place, and sales are often postponed.

How do I get a Montana 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 56 Montana counties: scan any ZIP to see owners in pre-foreclosure and at auction, ranked by how close the trustee sale is and how much equity they hold.

How long do Montana owners have before the trustee sale?

Typically 5 to 6 months from the first filing, uncontested. The Small Tract Financing Act covers most residential deeds of trust. 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 Montana home before the foreclosure auction?

Yes, from the owner directly. Until the trustee sale 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 Montana 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.