They will have a book with the pending foreclosures in it. If your local department does not have this, they will be able to direct you to someone in your county that does hold this information. They list foreclosed properties at no fee. Also, may real estate agents specialize in foreclosures. They can give you a free list of properties in your area.
Every state is different in their foreclosure procedure.
However, foreclosures, like other sales aren't all that they are cracked up to be. You also run the risk of buying a home with lots of problems. They will add the cost of repairs or replacements back on to the price. Ivan would be much better off to establish a good working relationship with a Realtor who could keep him apprised of troubled sellers. There's even a free weekly email newsletter.