Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 122 posts · 87 votes
9y
You can often dig up old pics from prior listings in the MLS, but it won't show the current condition of the home. And to get access to that, you will need to either be an agent or work with an agent. Unfortunately the Realtors Associations still have a lot of control and make it very difficult to work without an agent.
Pre-foreclosures will not have MLS pics other than the outside view of the home more often than not. There may be pics from a previous MLS listing, but it'll probably be several years old. You are going to have to drive by it more than likely or use Google Street View to get a look at the house exterior and the neighborhood.
You can also speak with the owner and ask to see the property and buy it directly from them as well.
As far as access to the MLS, you will need to work with a realtor or get a real estate salesperson license and become a realtor yourself.
Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 122 posts · 87 votes
9y
You can often dig up old pics from prior listings in the MLS, but it won't show the current condition of the home. And to get access to that, you will need to either be an agent or work with an agent. Unfortunately the Realtors Associations still have a lot of control and make it very difficult to work without an agent.
Real Estate Agent/Investor · Peoria, AZ · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
9y
@Mo S.
Ben is spot on with his statement. NAR makes it basically impossible for anyone other than a realtor to have access to the MLS.
Pics aren't listed as the owner still has the opportunity to redeem the home and the home is not actively for sale. It is just announced that the property owner has defaulted on their loan and is past due by 90 days or more and that a failure to redeem the property and pay the loan current within a set amount of time will lead to foreclosure and the home being sold at auction or redeemed by the lender.
For there to be pictures of the property, the owner or owner's agent would have to take these pictures and then list them online for the world to see and market the property as "For Sale". Pre-foreclosures are not for sale in the general sense of the word so that is why there are no current pictures or detailed descriptions of the property online.