North Monroe Avenue, Columbus OH 43203

Auction (Notice of Trustee Sale or Notice of Foreclosure Sale):

A public foreclosure auction (NTS, NFS) occurs when a homeowner in default does not stop foreclosure proceedings during the pre-foreclosure period. Properties are typically auctioned off in a public location — such as a local county courthouse — by an attorney or local public official. Auctions can present opportunities to buy properties below market value, but usually don't allow for property inspections and often require that buyers pay in cash — typically in the form of cashiers checks. Up until the auction occurs, however, buyers may still have an opportunity to buy directly from the homeowner in default via short sale or regular sale. Read more about Foreclosure Auctions »

Bank Owned (REO):

A property becomes a full-fledged foreclosure — sometimes referred to as a Real Estate Owned (REO) property — when it is repossessed by the foreclosing lender. The lender can take possession either through a deed-in-lieu-of foreclosure agreement with the owner during the pre-foreclosure period or through a winning bid at the public foreclosure auction. Foreclosing lenders are often motivated to sell these properties quickly because they are non-performing assets for their bottom line. Of the three stages of foreclosure, REOs are most likely to also be listed for sale with a real estate agent on the MLS, but not all REOs are listed yet — meaning buyers may have to contact the lender or servicer directly to make an offer. Read more about Bank Owned Foreclosures »