Finding hard to find property owner?

Question

We have this property we been trying to buy, and not having much luck finding the owners. I thinking they likely passed away as the address is in FL (just guessing), and likely the trustee has not taken over or anything. Ghost property with tenants living in it and not paying rent to anyone.

• The property owner address goes to a PO box that is out of state, and all mail gets returned.
• We used ProspectNow to try and find their phone number, no luck.
• We talked to the county, and they have the same address. Taxes are pass due for 2015 and 2016. They will foreclose on the property in 2018.
• After a bit of chatting up the country, they gave us a phone number. It was a dead end.

Anyone have a good method/service that I can use to track down the owners?

Chris Jackson · Answer

wow thanks guys Levi T. and @cory crane 24 bucks per search?  that's not bad

Peter Vekselman · Answer

Levi T. this maybe a very good deal.  remember, if you cant find them, then no one else can find them either.

most investors will stop at this point.

this would be a deal I would hire a skip tracer for.  even go as far as a private investigator.  you can google for either of them.

if you need more help just PM me....

peter

Tom V. · Answer

@Levi Thornton

One thing you could try. If the owner address on record is a PO box in FL, maybe try searching the public records in that county in FL. They likely own property in FL too.

Matthew Kreitzer · Answer

Any old collections law firm can perform a skip trace, and they have significant experience doing so, especially where there are tax liens. I'd recommend finding such a law firm in the area. Why? They can help you navigate the issues of conveyance and help you find the current owners, or in the event you cannot locate, move forward.

Mark Brogan · Answer

try TLO.com Levi T.

It costs 1 dollar per search

They also come out to do an office inspection at your home before they will let you sign up,it costs 60 dollars

Good luck finding them

Chris Mason · Answer

@Matthew Kreitzer can comment on this a little more, but at some point the folks living there may end up being able to assert ownership rights if they catch up on taxes and are subsequently able to satisfy any liens (mortgages etc) that are out there on the property.

I'm not sure how you could turn that into a deal that you'd be involved in Levi T., but that's an angle to think about.

Levi T. · Answer

This worked out well. Had what I needed in less than 30 minutes thanks to Corey Crane.

Levi T. · Answer

@Chris M. I'm not to worried about the tenants asserting ownership, it's in a ghetto where I plan to buy the entire neighborhood. It's very unlikely they have the money to take up a such court case, less even such knowledge. Plus it's in good old Virginia, which is the complete opposite of California.

@Peter Vekselman. If the property is in VA, and the owners last known location was in FL, can you recommend a service to perform a skip trace?

Finding hard to find property owner?

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