Finding REO (Bank-Owned) Properties

Why this matters

REO (Real Estate Owned) properties are homes or buildings that did not sell at auction and have reverted back to the lender. These properties are often prime opportunities for investors and buyers because banks are typically motivated to liquidate them.

PropertyShark allows you to easily locate REO inventory, view ownership and lien details, and export lists for outreach or due diligence.

What you’ll do

• Identify bank-owned properties using the Foreclosures search tool
• Apply filters to narrow results by location, property type, or lender
• Access Ownership Reports for research and export lists for acquisition campaigns

How to Search for REO Properties

1. Open the Foreclosures Tool

• From the top navigation, click Foreclosures.
• In the left-hand filter panel, find the Auction Status or Property Status dropdown.

2. Filter for Bank-Owned Properties

• Select Bank-Owned (REO) from the list of status options.
• Apply additional filters as needed:
• Location: city, ZIP code, neighborhood or county
• Property Type: residential, multi-family, commercial, land
• Auction Date or Filing Date (if tracking timeline)

3. View Results

• Each result includes key data points such as:
• Property address
• Lender/defendant name
• Case number
• Auction outcome
• Link to full Property Report with ownership and lien information

Next Steps: Analyze & Export

• View Ownership Details
  • • • • Click into a record to open the Ownership Report.
        • Here you can review the lender, title history, and mortgage information.
• Export REO Lists
  • • • • Use the Export button to download a list of bank-owned properties (available in Excel or CSV depending on your subscription).
        • Exporting allows you to sort, filter, and prioritize REO opportunities offline.
• Save Searches
  • • • • Click Save Search to be alerted automatically when new REO properties become available in your target area.

Pro Tips

• High Motivation: Banks typically want to liquidate these assets quickly - strong negotiation opportunities exist.
• Look for discount potential: Properties may be available below market value or with flexible terms.
• Use Ownership Reports to identify the lender or asset manager contact.
• Combine with Deep Owner Search to explore other REO holdings owned by the same institution.
• Export and tag properties to track follow-up and avoid duplicate outreach.