What causes a foreclosure auction?

Usually a borrower fails to make house payments, and the owner of the loan is entitled to sell the property to the highest bidder at a public auction.

Many banks use a Deed of Trust to finance home purchases (with these loans the lender is called the “Beneficiary”, the borrower is called the “Trustor” or “Grantor”, and the Trustee is called, well, the “Trustee”). In some states a Mortgage is used to finance houses, and the lender is called the “Mortgagee” and the borrower is called the Mortgagor.

No matter the reason, if the property appears on USA-Foreclosure.com, it is on track to be publicly auctioned.