Home foreclosure sales through USDA-Rural Development are usually handled by public auction. The amount you have to deposit with the clerk of court varies by state. In NC you have to put down 5%. Sales are for cash; no financing available at this point. Yes, the website is available, but that tool isn't being fully utiltized by the local offices. I would recommend that you contact the local office that services the county or counties you're interested in, and request that they put you on their "investors list." (They may call it something different, but tell them exactly what you're interested in.) People on this list are notified prior to any foreclosure sales. Also, in NC the bids lay open for 10 days; so if you can't attend the foreclosure sale, you still have 10 days to go to the clerk of court and upset the bid. Yes, there are definitely some deals out there, and yes, oftentimes the homes are in tough shape. But the minimum bids on those houses are low enough to make it a good risk. A funny thing though: When a property is advertised with a super-low bid (say , < $25,000), that always attracts a lot of bidders, and the final price on the house tends to be driven up. But a fairly new house, where the minimum bid is, say $40,000 +, won't attract a lot of bidders, and in reality, that might be the best deal.