Accountant · OK · Member since 2009 · 23 posts · 1 vote
There is a house on my street in which the foreclosure process just started 6/11/09. I have noticed that this house had been vacant for sometime and after researching found out that the owner had foreclosure process started in May '05 as well. However, I also discovered that the homeowner passed away in October of '08. I was able to track down the next of kin (his son) but I have not attempted any contact. Should I attempt to contact the son or try and get in touch with the bank? I do Not want to come off as a heartless investor if I approach the son. Any advice on what I should do?? Thanks in advance.
Contact the next of kin. Unless the bank has already FC'ed or if you have an Authorization to Release on file with them, they will not talk to you about it. Besides, the property may be in probate and have someone other than the son acting as executor. He will be able to tell you who to contact.
Whether I am dealing with a property in probate, pre foreclosure, or an expired listing I present myself the same way to the seller, that is- I can offer a solution regarding the property. Their situation is relevant in knowing what kind of scenario would fit their needs, but in most cases it doesn't change how you approach the seller. For me anyway.
If you see contacting him as "heartless", I'm sure he will too. I'm not a true believer in mind readers and all that stuff, but I do know that if someone is nervous or uneasy about something, they give off non-verbal clues. How would helping him solve a problem with his father's property be "heartless" though?
M. Jones, Thanks for your response.
"heartless" was probably the wrong word. I agree that I would probably come off as uneasy or nervous because I have never attempted to purchase a home that wasn't listed. I am just not sure how to approach him by phone, mail, in person? Anyway, thanks again..