If you go look at the Bank/Gov sites created to provide this information and their property for sale listings (REO/Forecloses) you will find it all explained. Sites like these.... http://hud1.towerauction.net/CA.htm
http://www.pasreo.com/pasreo/public/propertySearch.do ... http://reosearch.fanniemae.com/reosearch/
http://www.wamuproperties.com/

You can find the links to all these sites here... http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/wiki/REO_Database_List.asp ... http://www.biggerpockets.com/bank-reo.html

For Tax sales in CA. you'll find the info here.... http://www.sco.ca.gov/ardtax_public_auction.html
http://www.bid4assets.com/help/index.cfm?fuseAction=TaxSale ... http://www.kcttc.co.kern.ca.us/ptslist.cfm

Nice search engine for searching public records ..... http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/

Auctions ... Use Due diligence ... http://www.williamsauction.com/Search/SearchResultsState.asp…

http://www.propertyauction.com/Residential-Real-Estate-Aucti…

Good hunting, Dunes

You need to be able to qualify for a loan to purchase the home, just like any other non-foreclosure home. If the home needs lots of repairs or certain kinds of repairs, it may require special financing like a rehab loan (FHA 203K). Please ask a local REALTOR or lender.