It appears that about half the US states have such laws so this must be checked locally.http://www.unmarriedamerica.org/ms-statutes.htmCalifornia Specifichttp://www.ag.ca.gov/publications/womansrights/ch4.php

The county where I live, for example, doesn't not provide a public search for the notices.

Any foreclosure action by any lien holder requires holding a public foreclosure sale.

I don't have the tools, data files, research information and public records at hand to search out the hundreds of possibilities that could exist.

As some of you may know, while I am working on becoming a budding real estate investor, my main gig is as a songwriter and music producer.It turns out today I was informed that a song I wrote and submitted to American Idol has been selected out of close to 30,000 submissions to be one of 20 final songs to be voted on by the public online, with the winning song to be performed and recorded by this year's winner of American Idol!

The Land Trust in and of itself is only a means to shield your name from the public record and when combined with an LLC (preferably two) makes it very difficult for someone to sue you.

Out of curiosity, are all MLS listings in the Houston area generally available for public view through HAR.com?

That's the first step.Here is a link to every property appraiser and public records search in the country.  

Just as in the Art of War, you need a plan, make sure your plan is compliant, that the public in the caught in the battle area is considered, that you understand the area and circumstances before attacking. :)  

These days, any place where houses are publicly listed for sale are generally not going to have very good deals.