Originally Posted by
alaskan4545
How do you use a contract for deed to seize the property before foreclosure?
The answer is you don't. You have no standing with the property and cannot "seize" anything.
The only thing you can do with a property in foreclosure is make an offer to the owner to buy it. If your offer is enough to pay the outstanding balance on the mortgage, the property owner may sell to you.
Another option is to see if the lender will assign the mortgage to you. You would then pay the arrears and, maybe, a small amount to the owner to transfer title to you.
You could enter a contract for deed with the owner, but the only way ehat could work is if 1) your downpayment is enough to bring the mortgage upt to date and 2) your contrac payment is enough to cover the mortgage payment.