If I were a potential buyer, I would certainly call both the building and planning departments and start asking questions.

try your local property tax departments website.

You should go to the court house( or department of finance) in your area

They have a CD which has all the REO (and Loss Mit) departments to contact for getting on companies broker list for listings in your area.

We took the opportunity to play along, and I got in touch with the legal department at Ashley Furniture's corporate headquarters, in an effort to help them possibly catch someone in the act.

Here in Portland it seems to me that our market is just slightly declining but still strong and really good deals are further out of the city.I search for properties using the listing sites, advertise, and then drive by.Question: How to go about requesting a list of foreclosures directly from the REO Departments of banks?

At their seminar they say they want relationships built with customers in the carolinas (for this seminar) so that they will bring short sales to and through their mitigation department.

It's through the department of conservation or fish and game department depending on your state.

Once again, I have no information about their REO department because the listing agent does not allow me to contact with them.

Check the CA department that regulates agents.