If you would like to use the SmartMLS Tax public records system to search for foreclosure records, click the Foreclosure button at the top center of the SmartMLS Tax home page:
The search screen retains your default counties, but you can change them if necessary. Just click within the field and make your selections:
As is the case with a Property search, you may only select up to four counties at a time.
The search screen is divided into two main sections: Foreclosure Info and Location .
Foreclosure Info
Use the fields under Foreclosure Info to narrow your search by criteria related to the terms of the foreclosure. The Foreclosure Type field only allows you to make one selection. If you want to include multiple types, you can either choose All, or perform separate searches for each type you want to include:
If you are only interested in active foreclosures, put a check in the box next to Only Active Foreclosure Records . If you know a defendant’s name or a case number, enter those in the matching fields.
There are several date fields ( File Date , Auction Date and Mortgage Date ) that you can use to help refine your search. You can search within a specific date range by entering both a starting date and an ending date. If you want to see all matches after a specific date, just enter a starting date. If you want to see all matches before a specific date, just enter an ending date.
Location
You can also search for properties that are somewhere in the foreclosure process by using the fields within the Location section:
Enter any address information you have about a particular property, or just enter a street name or city to find foreclosures at those locations. You can even search by APN or Subdivision.
Click Submit when you're finished.
The Foreclosure Search Results page lists all the properties found for the criteria you entered. You can view, save, or share this list as it is, or you can filter it down further.
Let’s take a look at what you’ll see on the page, then we’ll talk about how to get the most out of the tools available to you.
Top of the results page:
- List of matching records.
- Legend that shows you what the icons represent.
- Number of search results.
- The search criteria that you've used so far.
If you're not satisfied with the results you have so far, use the fields in the section to the left of your results to adjust your search criteria and filter your list even further:
Simply add new criteria, like a defendant name or case number, or refine the date and dollar values you entered, then select Update Results to reduce the number of properties on your list.
If you'd like to see where your search results are located, just click Map View (towards the top center of the screen):
You will get a larger map at the top of the screen that displays your search results. The list of matches will appear beneath the large map:
We have a separate article that goes over the map search tools and layers.
If you would like to send a mailing to these properties, you can easily create a mail merge file by clicking the Export & Labels option at the bottom of the list:
The following screen allows you to configure your mailing labels.
Click here for detailed instructions on creating mailing labels.
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