Expert and Enterprise plans include two powerful map layers that surface motivated seller opportunities most teams never see — Foreclosures and Distressed Properties. Both layers are available directly on the map and can be toggled on from the map layers panel under the Expert section.
Foreclosures
The Foreclosures layer plots properties with active foreclosure records across your target geography. This isn't just residential — it covers the full spectrum of property types where foreclosure activity creates acquisition opportunity:
Residential — single-family homes and residential parcels in foreclosure
Commercial — commercial properties in foreclosure
Industrial — industrial parcels in foreclosure
Vacant Land — undeveloped land in foreclosure — often the most relevant for land acquisition teams
Agricultural — agricultural parcels in foreclosure
Public Works — public works-related properties
Other / Unknown — additional records where property type is unclassified
You can also toggle Include HOA Foreclosures to surface properties with HOA-driven foreclosure activity — a signal that ownership has become financially distressed even when the primary mortgage is still current.
For land acquisition teams, the Vacant Land filter is particularly valuable — a landowner in foreclosure on a development parcel is often highly motivated to sell before the process completes, which creates an opportunity to approach off-market at a price that works for both parties.
Distressed Properties
The Distressed Properties layer surfaces parcels showing signs of owner distress based on permit activity, code enforcement records, and building department data. These aren't foreclosures — they're properties where the permit and inspection record suggests a building or ownership situation that has stalled, deteriorated, or been flagged by local authorities.
The layer identifies distress through the following signals:
Fire Damage Repair Permit — permit pulled after fire damage
Flood/Water Damage Permit — permit pulled after flood or water damage
Demolition Permit — active demolition permit on the property
Board-Up Permit — property has been boarded up, indicating vacancy or abandonment
Emergency Repair Permit — emergency repair required by local authority
Condemnation-Triggered Permit — permit activity triggered by a condemnation order
Work Stop Order — construction or repair activity has been officially halted
Unsafe Structure Designation — property has been officially designated as unsafe
Expired Permit — No Final Inspection — a permit was pulled but never closed out, suggesting a project that stalled mid-construction
Repeated Failed Inspections — multiple failed inspections on the same property, indicating an ongoing compliance problem
Long Gap Between Permit & Activity — a permit was pulled but construction activity stopped for an extended period
Partial Completion Pattern — permit history shows a pattern of work started but not finished
Permit Renewal Without Progress — permits are being renewed but no meaningful progress is occurring
Vacant Building Registration — property has been registered with the municipality as vacant
Utility Disconnect/Reconnect Permit — utilities have been disconnected and/or reconnected, often indicating vacancy or distress
Multiple Distress Indicators — properties flagged for two or more of the above signals — the highest-confidence distress signal in the layer
How to Use These Layers
Enable either layer from the map layers panel and combine with your SearchAI search to add a distress filter to your existing criteria. A parcel that already matches your zoning, acreage, and location requirements — and shows up on the Distressed Properties or Foreclosures layer — is a higher-priority outreach target than one that doesn't. The owner is more likely to be motivated, and the conversation about selling is easier to start.
For assemblage work, run both layers across all parcels in your target area before initiating outreach — knowing which owners in an assemblage are under financial or property stress helps you sequence conversations and prioritize who to contact first.
Foreclosures and Distressed Properties map layers are available on Expert and Enterprise plans. Not on Expert or Enterprise yet? Talk to your account team.