Procedure At Courthouse...
I'm a newbie so bare with me. Local gossip revealed a property w/5acres was going back to the bank. After checking w/owner, she flat out denied the comment she supposedly made and said if anyone was to get the property it would be her son. (that's another laime story. ) anyway, husband I are curious and want to look up the info at courthouse. Is just the name and address all we need to get started? Guess we just want to see if there is truth to what we heard hoping the will become more motivated. Also if it does go back to the bank, then how do we proceed? Thanks again for any help! 
I don't know where you are located. This link is a site that list state and local government web sites.
See if your county is listed look for clerk of the court,
here where I am our clerk of the court is online just need persons name and can pull up records.
http://www.statelocalgov.net/
Hope this helps.
You need to know if you are in Deed of Trust State or Mortgage State. http://www.If.the notice should be posted at the courthouse on the wall near the main entrance three weeks before the 1st Tuesday of the next month. If you have the name and also the legal description you will be able to find the notice. You can bid at the sale and will need to take a cashiers check with you for the price you are willing to pay. Some will agree to meet you in an hour or so after the sale to get the proceeds and they will give you a trustee sale deed.
Good LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Hope this helps some
Ted Jr
In California, a Notice of Default is the first step in a foreclosure. These are recorded at the Recorder's Office. They occur well before the sale. Your state may have different practices.
Keep in mind the owner's may give the property back to the bank in lieu of foreclosure, although this is not that common.
Hi mxmom,
Being that you are in Illinois, you would simply go the the Circuit Clerks office with the owners name and or address. The NOD will be filed under their name.
Due to the fact that the seller does not appear to want to participate, a SS is out of the question. And if the NOD was just filed, you will have to wait about 7 months before the sale!
Best of Success!
BAMZ
Bamz,
This owner made the statement that the property WAS going back to the bank. What exactly does that mean? Talk to the banker??? Thanks
Your last post looks like the owner now claims (rather than flatly denies) that the property is (WAS?) going back to the bank. You might ask her by what means is the property going back to the bank.
It doesn't sound as though you can get her to think about selling to you instead. If the bank gets the property it will become a bank REO (Real Estate Owned). The bank will have an REO department and you need to contact them.
They are likely to list the property for sale with a real estate brokerage. Depending on how many REOs they have will determine what they will accept.
I hope this is of some help.
Regards,
Ed