Foreclosures · WV

West Virginia foreclosures by county

Short answer: West Virginia forecloses mostly without a court case, and the process ends at a trustee sale, typically 2 to 4 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 West Virginia county, each with its own page on pre-foreclosure filings, the trustee sale and the owners to reach before it.

Counties covered

55

Each with its own foreclosure page.

Process

Non-judicial

Ends at a trustee sale.

After the sale

None after the sale

None after the trustee sale.

Every West Virginia county

Largest first, by Census population.

CountyCounty seatPopulation
Kanawha County foreclosuresCharleston178,000
Berkeley County foreclosuresMartinsburg127,000
Monongalia County foreclosuresMorgantown106,000
Cabell County foreclosuresHuntington94,000
Wood County foreclosuresParkersburg84,000
Raleigh County foreclosures72,379
Harrison County foreclosures64,472
Jefferson County foreclosures61,264
Mercer County foreclosures57,524
Putnam County foreclosures57,067
Marion County foreclosures55,649
Ohio County foreclosures41,090
Fayette County foreclosures38,600
Wayne County foreclosures37,589
Preston County foreclosures34,055
Greenbrier County foreclosures31,851
Logan County foreclosures30,560
Marshall County foreclosures29,354
Hancock County foreclosures28,054
Jackson County foreclosures27,718
Randolph County foreclosures27,190
Mineral County foreclosures26,778
Mason County foreclosures24,770
Nicholas County foreclosures24,017
Hampshire County foreclosures23,793
Upshur County foreclosures23,650
Mingo County foreclosures21,712
Brooke County foreclosures21,285
Boone County foreclosures20,496
Wyoming County foreclosures19,964
Lincoln County foreclosures19,377
Morgan County foreclosures17,780
McDowell County foreclosures17,147
Lewis County foreclosures16,477
Taylor County foreclosures16,438
Barbour County foreclosures15,369
Hardy County foreclosures14,335
Wetzel County foreclosures13,766
Roane County foreclosures13,540
Monroe County foreclosures12,462
Braxton County foreclosures12,051
Summers County foreclosures11,544
Grant County foreclosures10,971
Ritchie County foreclosures8,170
Webster County foreclosures7,947
Tyler County foreclosures7,843
Clay County foreclosures7,689
Pocahontas County foreclosures7,653
Doddridge County foreclosures7,615
Pleasants County foreclosures7,358
Gilmer County foreclosures7,116
Tucker County foreclosures6,573
Pendleton County foreclosures5,944
Calhoun County foreclosures5,873
Wirt County foreclosures4,924

West Virginia foreclosure at a glance

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

West Virginia 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 timeline2 to 4 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 the trustee sale.
DeficiencyAllowed.
DefaultMissed payments anda breach letterNoticeDefault or salenotice recorded orpublishedNotice periodThe owner can stillcure, sell ornegotiateTrustee saleThe winning biddertakes the property
The West Virginia foreclosure sequence: typically 2 to 4 months from first filing to the trustee sale, uncontested. Trustee sales need about 30 days of notice and newspaper publication.

West Virginia foreclosure FAQ

Where are West Virginia 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 West Virginia foreclosure auctions sheriff sales or trustee sales?

Trustee sales. Most West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 55 West Virginia 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 West Virginia owners have before the trustee sale?

Typically 2 to 4 months from the first filing, uncontested. Trustee sales need about 30 days of notice and newspaper publication. 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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.