Finding Owners Of Abandoned Property
I just got done driving a certain neighborhood in my area and came away with a list of 40 vacant properties. How do i find the owners or somehow make a deal out of all of this? I have access to the county assessor online, but it usually gives the address as the owner's address. Since they are obviously gone, that just won't work. Has anyone used the help of a skip tracer. How about contacting the lender directly?
Some of your best deals can come from these sort of dead leads.
Here are the steps I take when trying to track down owners:
1. After bird-dogging the area I look up the owners on my local County Appraisal District, CAD website.
2. Search www.Anywho.com for a phone number to call them. If that does not work then mail them a letter inquiring about the vacant property.
3. If still no luck or the letter comes back undeliverable I then look them up at www.knowX.com. But wait until you have a list of dead leads to do this. For $29.00 a day you can do unlimited searches for a full day. The downside to this site is that you cannot find unlisted #'s here.
4. If still no luck or the letter comes back undeliverable then look them up at www.deadleads.com. We will search unlisted information and non public records to come with information so you know you are getting accurate information and they are cheap to, $24.95.
HTH
Sign up at real-info, (add usual web suffix) if they cover your area. You get the actual address of the owner paying the taxes on the property. No fuss, no muss. We have about 5% "bouncebacks" from owner's addresses that haven't been updated, or the owner has skipped out, or whatever.
[ Edited by 4 on Date 04/16/2004 ]
[ Edited by 4 on Date 04/16/2004 ][ Edited by 4 on Date 04/16/2004 ]
Make a letter for the neighbors that says you are trying to location the owner of property ______________ . If they help you find the owner and you buy the property you will give them $100. You are not a govenment agency and not trying to collect any money. You are an individual interested in buying the house. Tape one to about five houses around the vacant house and you will probaby get a phone call.
Brenda
I just get the address, look up the owner and addres of the owner either through a title company I use or I go down to the assesors office, then send them out a simple letter asking them if they would like to sell their propertey.
You would be surprised at the deals you can find, I think vacent homes are great in some asspects, but some of the owners arent so motivated, or easily found. But I now know vacent homes are cake, vacent land is a little harder to find owners of.
So good luck,
James
I used to do a lot of this as I was a little freaky about gathering lots to build on. I bought an awful lot of them all through the hills of Hollywood and elsewhere.
I started at the Assessors Office, check where the tax bills go. I then go talk to the neighbors and that is the best. I then try the Utility Companies. Start with research unpaid bills etc. etc. If the property is developed I will send a letter return receipt requested. I really watch the taxes and as they approach the five year mark I really concentrate. Any little clue, what kind of car etc. etc. etc. I have always found each and every one of them. Several were dead and this caused a problem getting the correct signature. I have gathered Quit Claim Deeds from Relatives. And a lot of other items. Once I discovered an estate of almost 20 parcels held by the recently departed. I mean talk about trying to take it with you!! But it all worked out. Lots of persistence. Now remember you must not notarize your own deed. Thats really a naughty, but if you do, remember after one year, after recordation the Notary is considered acceptable. Cheers
Lucius 8-) 8-)
Let me ask you a few questions. Is this neighborhood on the way up or down? How large an area is the neighborhood? A cheap way to contact the owner is to send the owner a 1st class stamped letter and write under the address forwarding service requested.
www.Anywho.com
www.phonenumber.com
www.Merlindata.com
www.Findtheseller.com
Best Riches,
Jeffrey Adam
[addsig]
In California there is such thing as "adverse possession". Check if you have it in your state. You basically can get in to the house, clean it, rent it out, BE SURE YOU PAY MORTGAGES on the house, pay property taxes for 5 years and you can get a title for the house by filing some papers to the court. Called "quiet title". You do not need the owner.