There is generally a legal requirement that the respective seller has to abide by in relation to the advertising of such assets prior to locking in a sale. Generally, auctions are held for distressed assets by a mortgagee sale company respective to the State. Also, on occasion you can pick them up from Real Estate agencies as per normal if the asset is of high value. In all cases, full disclosure and proper advertising is required for legal purposes.
This I think is the "normal" way, not sure about any back door, under the counter methods....
