Eviction leads in Shelby County, Tennessee: Memphis rentals and the remote landlords who own them
Shelby County, home of Memphis, has about 919,000 residents and a median home value near $249,000 in recent Census estimates. Only about 54% of homes are owner-occupied, yet about 71% are single-unit buildings, which means a very large share of rentals are single-family houses. Low prices have long drawn investors from other states who buy homes to rent through local property managers.
Owning a rental from hundreds of miles away is harder than it looks. When an eviction follows a missed payment or a damaged unit, many remote owners decide to sell. Shelby County General Sessions Court draws about 2,400 searches a month, a sign of how active the local court docket is. This guide explains the market, how Tennessee evictions work in general terms and how to work eviction leads fairly.
Shelby County in numbers
Shelby County has about 919,000 residents, a median home value near $249,000 and a median household income around $64,000 in recent Census estimates, with about 54% of homes owner-occupied, about 71% single-unit homes and vacancy near 10%.
Logistics, healthcare, a major air cargo hub and manufacturing support employment.
Single-family rentals are common across Memphis, many owned by out-of-state investors.
Prices range widely, from eastern suburbs above $400,000 to neighborhoods near $70,000.
Tennessee evictions are filed in General Sessions Court as detainer warrants.
- Contact tenants about the case
- Skip lease review
- Cold-call without scrubbing
- Respect tenants
- Read every lease
- Follow call and text rules
Related resources
How a Tennessee eviction typically works in Shelby County
This is a general overview, not legal advice. Tennessee procedures differ by county size and can change. Landlords should consult a Tennessee attorney before filing.
Written notice to the tenant
Shelby County is covered by Tennessee’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which sets notice periods for nonpayment and lease violations. The lease may add terms.
- Notice
- URLTA
Use the correct notice for the situation.
Detainer warrant in General Sessions
The landlord files a detainer warrant in Shelby County General Sessions Court. The tenant is served, may appear and raise defenses, and the judge decides.
- Detainer warrant
- Hearing
Self-help lockouts are not allowed.
Writ of possession
After judgment and the appeal period, the landlord can request a writ of possession that the sheriff carries out.
- Writ
- Sheriff
Only officers carry out removal.
Fair dealing with landlords and tenants
Investors who contact landlords should be honest, avoid pressure and respect tenants’ rights. Remote owners may rely on a property manager, so confirm who has authority to discuss a sale. Tennessee mortgage foreclosures are usually non-judicial trustee sales. Follow federal and Tennessee rules for calls and texts.
Fair dealing protects everyone and your reputation.
Questions to ask a Shelby County landlord
- 1Where do you live, and who manages the property?
- 2Is the eviction finished or pending?
- 3How many rentals do you own here?
- 4What repairs does the home need?
- 5Would you sell with a tenant in place?
- 6What do you need to walk away with?
Shelby County ZIP codes for eviction leads
Recent Census estimates show Shelby County medians from about $71,000 to about $576,000.
Germantown 38138 and 38139, Collierville 38017, Eads 38028
Medians near $430,000 to $576,000 and owner-occupancy near 78% to 97%, with few rentals.
East Memphis 38117 and 38120, Arlington 38002
Medians near $312,000 to $461,000, with established neighborhoods and some single-family rentals.
Cordova 38016 and 38018, Midtown 38104
Medians near $283,000 to $317,000 and owner-occupancy near 38% to 62%, with many rentals.
Southeast Memphis 38115, 38118 and 38141
Medians near $108,000 to $158,000, with large rental shares and investor-owned homes.
Whitehaven and Raleigh 38116, 38109 and 38128
Medians near $80,000 to $139,000, with many single-family rentals and steady eviction activity.
South and north Memphis 38106, 38108, 38114 and 38127
Medians near $71,000 to $90,000 and vacancy near 16% to 23%, where cash-flow math drives every deal.
ZIP medians are recent Census estimates. Use recent sales and rents to set every offer.
What Shelby County renters, owners and investors search for
Searches for a Shelby County assessor draw about 14,800 a month, though that total includes other states’ Shelby Counties. The register of deeds draws about 3,600 and General Sessions Court about 2,400.
Rentals rival sales
Homes for sale in Memphis draw about 1,900 searches a month and houses for rent about 1,600.
Suburbs draw buyers
Bartlett draws about 880, Germantown about 720 and Collierville about 590.
Investors shop from afar
Memphis investment property draws about 70 searches a month at about $3 per click.
- 1Shelby County assessorAbout 14,800
- 2Shelby County register of deedsAbout 3,600
- 3Shelby County General Sessions CourtAbout 2,400
- 4Homes for sale Memphis TNAbout 1,900
- 5Houses for rent MemphisAbout 1,600
- 6Homes for sale Bartlett TNAbout 880
- 7Homes for sale Germantown TNAbout 720
- 8Homes for sale Collierville TNAbout 590
How investors can use this data
Turn filings into fair offers:
Search volumes are approximate. Figures are recent monthly estimates and change over time. Use them to understand interest, not as exact counts.
ForeclosuresDaily.com hosts monthly webinars with investors such as Carolynn Castillo, who share how they find and evaluate deals.
How to work Shelby County eviction leads
- 1
Pull new filings regularly
Detainer warrants are filed in General Sessions Court. Match filings to property records to find owners, especially those with out-of-state mailing addresses.
- 2
Research before you reach out
Confirm ownership, liens, property condition, any code violations and whether the case is finished or pending.
- 3
Follow up with care
Use mail and compliant calls and texts. Scrub numbers against do-not-call lists, get consent where required and never interfere with a pending case or contact tenants about it.
Checklist
- Verify ownership
- Check case status
- Review the lease
- Check code violations
- Inspect the property
- Get legal advice
See also wholesaling real estate in Shelby County and eviction: understanding the legal process.
Running the numbers after a Shelby County eviction
Run the numbers before you make an offer. Homes often need work after a difficult tenancy. Start with the after-repair value, then subtract the purchase price, repairs and holding and selling costs.
Profit = After-repair value − Purchase + repairs + holding and selling costs
All figures are illustrative. Local costs vary widely.
Lower-priced ZIPs work differently. Where medians sit near $70,000 to $100,000, most buyers are landlords who value homes on rent, so model cash flow, insurance and property management costs.
Remote owners want simplicity
A clean, certain close often matters most.
Leases transfer with the sale
Review every lease before closing.
Time costs money
Court timelines raise holding costs.
Track your results
Measure cost per deal by ZIP.
What our customers say
Real investors share their experience with ForeclosuresDaily.com in short video reviews and press releases.
Eviction leads in Shelby County, Tennessee: FAQ
Short general answers. This is not legal advice. Tap a question to open it.
QWhere are evictions filed?Yes
As detainer warrants in Shelby County General Sessions Court.
QWhy are there so many single-family rentals?
Low prices drew many investors, including from other states.
QWho enforces a writ of possession?
The sheriff.
QCan I call and text landlords?Yes
Only within federal and Tennessee rules. Scrub lists and get consent where required.
QWhich ZIP has the highest median?
Germantown, 38139, at about $576,000.
QDo leases end when a property sells?
Generally no. Buyers usually take the property subject to existing leases.
Want Shelby County eviction leads? Tell us your target ZIP codes and strategy and we will help you choose landlord leads.
Reach Shelby County landlords first
Memphis has one of the largest single-family rental markets in the region, and eviction filings show which owners, near or far, may be ready to sell. Investors who reach them early, with fair offers and respect for tenants, find deals others miss.
ForeclosuresDaily.com supplies eviction, probate, preforeclosure and absentee owner leads across Shelby County and Tennessee. Explore our lead products.