How to find owner of abandoned house

Question

Good morning, looking to purchase first home.  Came across a home that is clearly vacant and dilapidated but not up for sale.  Any suggestions on how to find and contact the owners to see if they want to sell?  Thanks!

Rick H. · Answer

Get record owner from county recorder's office for last xfer docs in deed chain.

Use online search of record owner's name, determine if living or not.

Then try social media.

Use skip trace services, then genealogy then PI in tgat order to conserve costs.

Alisha Mingus · Answer

You could always do something simple and direct like leave a note on the door saying you're interested in buying the property. I mean if you're already standing there looking at the property then why not? Maybe ask the neighbors if they know anything. Then I'd use the other methods provided by the gentleman who have answered prior to this post. Maybe a family member or friend will see the note on the door before you skip trace the owner and the owner will contact you while you search for him.

Jay Statzer · Answer

I don't know about doing that. Leaving an abandoned paper on an abandoned house may just alert people who would do harm that the house is an easy target. Maybe do the note thing in a subtle way. Tax records can't be relied upon but is useful info anyway, but is there a trick anyone knows to seek out that lost owner for free, or at least the best deal on a skip tracer? Outside of death searching and court record searching on Westlaw, that is.

Jassem A. · Answer

tax office should have a name and mailing address, can also try beenverified or property shark

How to find owner of abandoned house

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