Or, if you can find them, certain newspapers carry the "notices of trustee sales" in the classifieds sections.   

Nothing in the old agreement need carry over to any new one. 

However, the one reason I have not ever financed is that I don't like to over-insure and carry coverage like collision.  

Hi Garry, expenses were: $1,701 foreclosure fees (later reimbursed by borrower), $578 were for loan servicing, recording fees, and document scrubbing and storage.

My guess is that the house has wood siding, which will require some scraping, scrubbing, and fresh paint.

The liens mentioned are municipal and won't carry much of a discount though it does not hurt to try.  

Jay would be selling the property, with a short term seller carry back loan.  

All my private seller carry deals are no less than 10 years, but typically longer and I always try to write an extension clause in the note.

And to your point about having the ability to close (down payment) I have that covered as well as debt service/carrying costs. 

The increase also has to do with our area and I don't know your area.I agree with 15-year mortgages but only if it is a really good deal where the cash from the property can at a minimum carry itself or you are in a position to feed it (and every other part of the deal makes sense).Do your research (which you are doing), make a decision and stick with it.