are real estate agents able to look up foreclosure details prior to public postings?

I know some of the MLS systems use Realist tax info system which flags listings when a foreclosure notice is flied at the court house. I have never used it to search for just flagged listings but I am sure there is a way. There is also a website called foreclosure listing service or something like that that also lets you know properties on the foreclosure list.

I know the guy who operates the one in Houston, I think it is about $50 a month.

edit: the site I know of in Houston is FLSHouston.com

[This message has been edited by AFarmer95 (edited 8/30/2012 8:48a).]

when you say public posting, do you mean the MLS or the actual posting?

In Texas, whenever a bank forecloses, they have to post a notice at the county courthouse prior to the foreclosure sale. This is the first time anyone without insider info at the bank is going to know anythign about it. The sale is usually on the first or second Tuesday of each month. There will be an auction at the courthouse that day. If you want to learn how foreclosures work, I would suggest going to a foreclosure sale and watching.

The average real estate agent isnt going to know much more than you until it hits the MLS.

I don't see information on har, zillow but this property has been bank owned for months now. Im wanting to know the status if the property, why it hadn't been out on market and such.

go to HCAD and look-up the owner. If its a smaller bank call the bank and ask for the person who manages REO properties, if its a large bank go to their website and search around for REO properties.

Not uncommon for these things to take 9-12 months from start to MLS.

RealtyTrac.com