City Hall would have the info on the mortgage. Usually, though, the bank will not speak to you about buying the home directly from them. They will want to go through the usual process of foreclosing and then putting the home on the market. What you may want to do is speak with the landlord about you purchasing the house from him/her. It would probably have to be a short sale, so he/she will have to be willing to provide the bank with all their financial info. You should also enlist the help of an experienced short sale attorney. Call me if you would like a referral or more info 714-7724.