Buying forclosed property before auction? Contact lender?

[Kyle Kelley]

I've never participated in a foreclosure auction before (Sheriff's Auction to be exact) and had a question about whether or not I could buy a property before it actually goes to auction? 

I am not talking about Sub-2's where I would be holding it for them to get caught up or however that whole process works. I mean buying the property for cash with the intention to fix it up and then sell it after rehabbing. 

Am I able to contact the lender directly before the auction and ask them about the property in question? And if so, has anyone done this before and had any success doing it? 

Any information and help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!