Opportunity to find lists of foreclosures in your area?

[Account Closed]

USA Today has an article today about cities having to do the leg work in maintaining properties going through foreclosure - Cities, volunteers fight blight caused by foreclosure crisis

City staff is having to mow lawns, board up doors and windows, etc. as many houses sit vacant during the foreclosure process. Here is the URL of the article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-10-26-blight-foreclosure-city-ordinances_N.htm

While it's an interesting story in and of itself what intrigued me was that perhaps this is an opportunity for investors to seek out these properties and purchase, flip, whatever. Based on the tone of the article it seems like both the banks and the cities involved would like to see these derelict properties taken off their hands and the property and building cleaned up. The article quotes Cape Coral, FL as having over 5200 properties on their list of foreclosed homes (*although it might be multiple lawn mowing's on the same properties). WOW! How great would it be to have dibs on even 1% of these homes!

Enjoy.