How Do I Find Out Who Owns The Property?
I've noticed an old mechanic shop on a corner from the area that I live. It's been vacant for over a year. How do I find out who owns it so I can make an offer? I'm thinking of turning it into a used car lot.
Very simple way, call your Realtor, have him look on the MLS. Supply him with the address. He will supply you with a print out of the name and address and sometimes the tele of the owner. Call him, mention that you saw a bunch of vandals hanging around and you wonder if he would be interested in leasing it for a shop, or maybe selling it if the price was right and you could pay for it from your school allowance. this is called not tipping your hand.
Keep talking ask for a walk thru etc.
Negotiate. I mean Used CarsReally. Lucius
monopoly,
Glad to meet you.
A trip to your recorders office is in order. This is were you access public information such as who owns this property. Start there many times this is as far as you need to go.
I don't know where you are from so it is the office where properties are recorded. Different states have different names for this office.
John $Cash$ Locke
Lufos,
Even the thought of calling a Realtor to look up the property for you if it is not listed is like that game they played many years ago involving lions.
John $Cash$ Locke
Keep talking ask for a walk thru etc.
Negotiate. I mean Used CarsReally. Lucius <IMG SRC="images/forum/smilies/icon_cool.gif">
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What do you mean by the above?
Thanks for the replies, the property is in California.
Monopoly, your state's property appraiser's website probably has a website with all this info - this negating the need to actually physically going there.
Call the local county clerk of courts office and ask them for the website info. If they don't have it online, you will have to go down there physically. Good Luck
One additional thought...
If the property has been used in the past as a mechanic's shop, if I were submitting an offer, I would consider the possibility that the property is contaminated, so I would:
1. put Seller reps and warranties in the contract
2. get written seller disclosure statement (if your state requires it) and incorporate it by reference in the contract
3. put provision for a due diligence contingency in the contract so you could research this and other issues and be able to terminate the deal at your discretion.
It may be owned by a corp with no other address, if so some states have a corp website that alows a cross search by officers or corp name. Pretty dang handy.