Absolutely but its just not something you can buy or obtain legally for this purpose.There are lots of people/companies selling their version of their best guess of a preforeclosure list, and still even more that sell lists of people where the foreclosure filing has occurred and you get some real (if not stale) data there and then but no, there is no preforeclosure list. its all some calculation based on assumptions or some snapshot in time, that has passed. 

In this method of transfer, your Mom's tax basis in the house becomes yours.The best tax outcome occurs if your Mom puts the house into a revocable trust and designates both you and your sister as beneficiaries upon her death. 

Your contract should specify what occurs in the event of a default.

And given that such a crash is a real possibility, then it might be wise for a Newbie to wait-n-watch for how things transpire in the housing market in the next few months, while looking for opportunities in buys, that might occur in such a possible crash.

If anything, as more new construction occurs, it'll allow you to push rents at your property because it'll leave less non-luxury apartment units in the area, meaning that demand will be greater for the product that you're offering.

First of all, if you decide to purchase the property, stipulate in the contract that no renewal of tenants or lease occur during the buying process.  

If another shut down does occur it will disrupt a huge amount of business here in the valley and trickle down through the distributors and other ancillary organizations that depend on the tourism money, even indirectly. 

@Jonathan Harms, thank you!

The stock market troubles started in 2007 and the crash occurred in 2008.

(Hence they have to sell before the thing.) but not know exactly when the thing will occur.