Most foreclosure data starts in the same place: public records.

That sounds useful, and sometimes it is.

Public foreclosure records can tell an investor that a property may be headed toward auction.

They may include the homeowner’s name, property address, foreclosure filing, attorney or trustee information, and a scheduled sale date.

But raw data has several problems.

It often does not tell you whether the homeowner is reachable.
It does not tell you whether the homeowner wants help.
It does not tell you whether the phone number is accurate.
It does not tell you whether the property still has equity.
It does not tell you whether another investor has already contacted them.
It does not tell you whether the homeowner is open to selling, reinstating, refinancing, filing bankruptcy, or pursuing another option.

In other words, raw foreclosure data tells you that a situation may exist.

It does not tell you whether there is a real conversation to be had.

That difference matters.