Search for Virginia foreclosure homes on real estate listings

Sometimes foreclosures and real estate owned properties are listed with other real estate if they do not sell at the auction. In most cases, they are not listed separately but with all the regular listings.

I recommend: Find a Virginia foreclosure list at RealtyTrac.com or RealtyBargains.com. Samson Realty, a northern VA real estate agency, features foreclosure listings.

Sift through bank and lender sites for Virginia foreclosure listings

Visit lender websites for a Virginia foreclosure list. These are often bank-owned properties that did not sell at the auction. Lenders are usually highly motivated to sell at this point, and much bargaining can be done.

I recommend: Look for Virginia foreclosure listings at CitiFinancial and Wells Fargo.

Become a paid member of a website featuring foreclosure listings

This gives you access to the most comprehensive list of foreclosures, and often these have not been auctioned yet. These membership websites send you email updates of newly foreclosed homes in the Virginia area. There are membership fees, but they are usually minimal.

I recommend: Search ForeclosureListings.com, HomeSteps.com or Registryline.com. Sign up for a free account at NorthernVirginiaForeclosure.com.

Look for pre-foreclosures

There are online databases to find listings of pre-foreclosed homes as well as companies that specialize in them that you can contact. Pre-foreclosures are not yet repossessed, and the owners are trying to avoid that by selling their home under market value for just enough to get their return.

I recommend: Look for potential Virginia foreclosures at PreForeclosure.com or PreForeclosureSearcher.com.

Contact government agencies that may repossess properties

These agencies have listings of mostly farmland and commercial properties. Single and multi family homes foreclosed in Virginia can be found sometimes however. These sites are not very user-friendly and the info is not easily found, but it is there.

I recommend: Search the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for foreclosure listings in Virginia.