I'm surprised that from all the people on BP nobody knows the answer

Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes

I posted a question before if anyone knew how to find vacant properties besides contacting cities and driving neighborhoods. Shocked that nobody responded with an answer.

We find that only larger cities have these records, but smaller ones do not.

Does anyone know of a service that could locate empty properties?

Also after we find a property, how to find the property owner if his/her county's record is the same mailing address as the property's?

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NA Jones

Flipper · Port Deposit, MD · Member since 2014 · 280 posts · 171 votes

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Joel OwensBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
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Pavel search through the site. There are things such as skip tracing, talking with the neighbors, looking for forwarding address for the post office and on and on.
You can try calling local banks and see what kind of shadow inventory they have. There were more properties like this a few years ago but less now with demand rising.
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Christopher Baustert
Real Estate Investor · Bell, CA · Member since 2014 · 65 posts · 19 votes
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I apologize for what you will consider my being a jerk, but I tell it like it is.
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Pavel Sakurets
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Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes
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Originally posted by @Joel Owens:

Pavel search through the site. There are things such as skip tracing, talking with the neighbors, looking for forwarding address for the post office and on and on.
You can try calling local banks and see what kind of shadow inventory they have. There were more properties like this a few years ago but less now with demand rising.
Joel, I hope that you do not talk to the neighbors or you look up for their forwarding addresses in the post office yourself. If you do that and it works for you, great. I'm looking for a website or reliable Co who I can pay to for the list of vacant properties that has accurate information. If you know of any, please share.
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Pavel Sakurets
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Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes
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Originally posted by @Christopher Baustert:

I apologize for what you will consider my being a jerk, but I tell it like it is.
Thank you for your feedback. It's OK, I always tell things how they are and sometimes regret it because people do not want to know the truth :-(
I share everything that I know with people because I believe if I give more, I get more back.
I'm sorry that you don't feel that away, and it's OK. I did a search of vacant properties as well as people in my team. BP was the last resort for me to find the answer. But thank you for your opinion.
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Account Closed
Investor · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
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Originally posted by @Pavel Sakurets:

I posted a question before if anyone knew how to find vacant properties besides contacting cities and driving neighborhoods. Shocked that nobody responded with an answer.
We find that only larger cities have these records, but smaller ones do not.
Does anyone know of a service that could locate empty properties?
Also after we find a property, how to find the property owner if his/her county's record is the same mailing address as the property's?
Maybe if you gave a definition of a "vacant" property you would get an answer. Maybe even give your reason WHY you are looking for a property in this condition. Your question makes no sense to me.
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Marie S.
Investor · Davenport, IA · Member since 2010 · 111 posts · 22 votes
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Originally posted by @Pavel Sakurets:

Originally posted by @Joel Owens:
Pavel search through the site. There are things such as skip tracing, talking with the neighbors, looking for forwarding address for the post office and on and on.
You can try calling local banks and see what kind of shadow inventory they have. There were more properties like this a few years ago but less now with demand rising.
Joel, I hope that you do not talk to the neighbors or you look up for their forwarding addresses in the post office yourself. If you do that and it works for you, great. I'm looking for a website or reliable Co who I can pay to for the list of vacant properties that has accurate information. If you know of any, please share.
I'm sorry you're having a hard time in this forum. It's hard to answer this question because you're missing some information in your questions. The questions have been answered many times in many different ways. It just depends on what you're looking for.
My attempt to answer your first question:
If you're looking for empty properties in various conditions that require varying degrees of rehab, it sounds like you want to contact a wholesaler. They generally have lists of properties that they are trying to unload for a small profit.
If you're looking for move-in ready property then you want to find someone with MLS access; usually a real estate agent.
Otherwise, use the search box at the top of the page. Search for the word "list." There's a plethora of posts on the different type of REI lists, from auction notification lists to wholesalers' mailing lists; that might be exactly what you're looking for.
To answer your second question:
In all honesty, @Joel Owen hit the nail on the head. If you are looking for someone and do not know their current whereabouts, you want to involve a skip tracing service or try your hand at it yourself. If you type "skip tracing" in the search box, you get quite a few forum posts on the topic as well. Given that you do not want to go to the Post Office, I don't recommend doing it yourself. Talking to the neighbors helps. They can sometimes tell you "They moved to Alabama..." or "They moved a few blocks away on 2nd Street..." (sometimes they are tasked with pick-up-my-mail duty).
There are no easy, straight-to-the-point answers . Can you give us a little more information on the type of properties you're looking for? Price range? SFR, Multi, Mixed use? Condition requirements? Preferred method of acquisition?
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Pavel Sakurets
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Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes
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Thank you Marie and I'm sorry that I didn't make myself clear. I'm a wholesaler and rehabber. I'm looking to find vacant properties that have been vacant for quite some time, that costing money to their owners every day, so the owners are motivated to sell them. I buy both commercial and residential properties up to 5m any size only in MN.
I know how to find a property owner, but where can I find actual houses that are vacant except driving and looking for them? Is there a website or Co that keeps track of vacant properties where utilities may be disconnected, etc.
I hope it makes sense now.
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Hawley G.
Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2014 · 41 posts · 47 votes
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Originally posted by @Pavel Sakurets:

Thank you Marie and I'm sorry that I didn't make myself clear. I'm a wholesaler and rehabber. I'm looking to find vacant properties that have been vacant for quite some time, that costing money to their owners every day, so the owners are motivated to sell them. I buy both commercial and residential properties up to 5m any size only in MN.
I know how to find a property owner, but where can I find actual houses that are vacant except driving and looking for them? Is there a website or Co that keeps track of vacant properties where utilities may be disconnected, etc.
I hope it makes sense now.
Just because a house has been vacant and costing an owner money for years, doesn't mean they will be motivated to sell.
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Pavel Sakurets
OP
Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes
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Originally posted by @Hawley G.:

Originally posted by @Pavel Sakurets:
Thank you Marie and I'm sorry that I didn't make myself clear. I'm a wholesaler and rehabber. I'm looking to find vacant properties that have been vacant for quite some time, that costing money to their owners every day, so the owners are motivated to sell them. I buy both commercial and residential properties up to 5m any size only in MN.
I know how to find a property owner, but where can I find actual houses that are vacant except driving and looking for them? Is there a website or Co that keeps track of vacant properties where utilities may be disconnected, etc.
I hope it makes sense now.
Just because a house has been vacant and costing an owner money for years, doesn't mean they will be motivated to sell.
Agreed, but if you know of any other type of sellers that could be motivated to sell who have good equity, please share.
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Jon Holdman
Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
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The ONLY way anyone can determine a house is vacant is to look. People moving in and out is not something that's reported to some authority. So, fundamentally there is no such thing as a record of all vacant houses. You're looking for something that doesn't exist.
Utility disconnection doesn't mean its vacant, nor that the owner is ready to sell.
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NA Jones
Flipper · Port Deposit, MD · Member since 2014 · 280 posts · 171 votes
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Ian Hoover
Bridgeville, PA · Member since 2013 · 395 posts · 105 votes
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Even vacant houses aren't always vacant ;-)
5 Reply
Marie S.
Investor · Davenport, IA · Member since 2010 · 111 posts · 22 votes
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@Pavel Sakurets
What you're talking about is specific to certain counties and states. Some cities, states or counties have an abandoned property list. Chicago is notorious for this. I would start looking at one of those offices in your area.
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Pavel Sakurets
OP
Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes
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Originally posted by @Marie S.:

@Pavel Sakurets
What you're talking about is specific to certain counties and states. Some cities, states or counties have an abandoned property list. Chicago is notorious for this. I would start looking at one of those offices in your area.
Thank you again Marie for your post, but I mentioned before that my team contacted local cities and smaller cities do not have registered vacant properties except Minneapolis and St Paul, that's why I was checking if anyone on BP knew if there were companies that offer reliable information about vacant properties that have been vacant for 6+months.
No answer has been received yet if there are companies that have reliable vacant properties' information!
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Account Closed
Investor · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
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Originally posted by @Pavel Sakurets:

Originally posted by @Marie S.:
@Pavel Sakurets
What you're talking about is specific to certain counties and states. Some cities, states or counties have an abandoned property list. Chicago is notorious for this. I would start looking at one of those offices in your area.
Thank you again Marie for your post, but I mentioned before that my team contacted local cities and smaller cities do not have registered vacant properties except Minneapolis and St Paul, that's why I was checking if anyone on BP knew if there were companies that offer reliable information about vacant properties that have been vacant for 6+months.
No answer has been received yet if there are companies that have reliable vacant properties' information!
Please share the "vacant" registered list of M-SP. What is the criteria? I'd be sueing if any govt/commercial agency reported my property.
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Henrietta M.
New to Real Estate · Ogden · Member since 2014 · 107 posts · 19 votes
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Hi everyone! I'm a newbie here and very new to REI in general. Although I have no actual experience yet, I felt like I needed to respond to his question, my two cents, or my 'true sense,'is below,
"A bit of common sense, and intelligence, go a long way"
Thank you BP, for a FREE real estate investment education!
3 Reply
Paul Timmins
Specialist · Rockland, MA · Member since 2010 · 7k+ posts · 2k+ votes
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@Pavel Sakurets
It seems you have received your answer you are looking for a company that doesn't exist.
Try calling the MLS expired listings great way to develop deals not on the market or listing referrals.
Good luck
Paul
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Ibrahim Hughes
Real Estate Consultant · Bloomfield, NJ · Member since 2010 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
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I believe Listsource sells lists of vacant properties in whatever zip code you give them. Give them a try,
2 Reply
Rick H.
Lender · Greater LA/Orange County area, CA · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
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The first order of business is to understand that "vacant" doesn't necessarily mean "abandoned".
I have five (5) different criteria to differentiate properties that are vacant by their nature, including ownership and circumstances.
I use this information to eliminate all but the type that interest me and fit my criteria.
There are lists available however what's vacant today may be occupied tomorrow so boots on street become essential to confirm what mailing does not.
When someone works hard to devise a system to identify certain property characteristics, there is little motivation to share with others who may use the info in a haphazard manner.
5 Reply
Hawley G.
Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2014 · 41 posts · 47 votes
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Originally posted by @Pavel Sakurets:

Originally posted by @Marie S.:
@Pavel Sakurets
What you're talking about is specific to certain counties and states. Some cities, states or counties have an abandoned property list. Chicago is notorious for this. I would start looking at one of those offices in your area.
Thank you again Marie for your post, but I mentioned before that my team contacted local cities and smaller cities do not have registered vacant properties except Minneapolis and St Paul, that's why I was checking if anyone on BP knew if there were companies that offer reliable information about vacant properties that have been vacant for 6+months.
No answer has been received yet if there are companies that have reliable vacant properties' information!
Here you go Pavel
Vacant Property List by Zipcode
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Mike B.Pro Member
Developer · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 437 posts · 359 votes
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Ha, tough crowd
2 Reply
Steve Vaughan
Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
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The good news is, it is doubtful any co would have a vacant property list that's any good. If they did, everyone else would have this same list and you would have a lot of competition! Get some bird dogs and other boots on the ground looking out for vacants for you if your time is too valuable to do it yourself. You may have a niche with high barriers to entry. No everything worthwhile is easy!
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Pavel Sakurets
OP
Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes
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Originally posted by @Hawley G.:

Originally posted by @Pavel Sakurets:
Originally posted by @Marie S.:

@Pavel Sakurets
What you're talking about is specific to certain counties and states. Some cities, states or counties have an abandoned property list. Chicago is notorious for this. I would start looking at one of those offices in your area.
Thank you again Marie for your post, but I mentioned before that my team contacted local cities and smaller cities do not have registered vacant properties except Minneapolis and St Paul, that's why I was checking if anyone on BP knew if there were companies that offer reliable information about vacant properties that have been vacant for 6+months.
No answer has been received yet if there are companies that have reliable vacant properties' information!
Here you go Pavel
Vacant Property List by Zipcode
:-) It was very nice of you spending the time and giving me such an accurate answer.
One of my agents called 5 min ago and found through a County a list of 7000 vacant houses; next step is to find from utilities' companies if they have connected utilities or not, sort and do the mailing. Thank you very much to everybody trying to help.
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Pavel Sakurets
OP
Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2014 · 332 posts · 74 votes
11y
Originally posted by @Rick H.:

The first order of business is to understand that "vacant" doesn't necessarily mean "abandoned".
I have five (5) different criteria to differentiate properties that are vacant by their nature, including ownership and circumstances.
I use this information to eliminate all but the type that interest me and fit my criteria.
There are lists available however what's vacant today may be occupied tomorrow so boots on street become essential to confirm what mailing does not.
When someone works hard to devise a system to identify certain property characteristics, there is little motivation to share with others who may use the info in a haphazard manner.
Agreed with you at some degree. You say ''work hard'' , drive and see vacant or abandoned houses, etc., which is good, but I'm sure there are people that have already did this research before and found the answer. I do not want to drive the neighborhoods or have my employees doing that either. Sorry, but it's a low skilled work.
That's why I believe, this site is great so people could share the info and not trying to hide it. If somebody did find the list before and knows about abandoned houses or lists that could be purchased, please share.
On the same note, I spoke to RE investigator today from the Department of Commerce if I could pay somebody to drive the neighborhoods and look for abandoned houses? He said ''No", only licensed re agents could be compensated for this work. Which doesn't make sense for me and all bird-dogging is illegal. For those who want to learn more read Chapter 82.70 (compensation in real estate)
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Rick H.
Lender · Greater LA/Orange County area, CA · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
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You asked if anybody on this site knew the answer. Yes, I'm certain.
What they don't want is to do your homework or share proprietary information.
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