Realtor · Orange County, CA · Member since 2015 · 74 posts · 13 votes
Hey guys,
I came across a house in Los Angeles that looks like no body lives there. Any ideas on how I should go about and trying to locate the Homeowner? Any contribution is greatly appreciated.
Specialist · Novato, CA · Member since 2012 · 190 posts · 57 votes
11y
Is there equity? Lots of vacant houses with debt.
1. Find name of Owner
2. Go to Grantor/grantee index ( county of subject )
3. Look for last transaction that would indicate some debt document/reconveyance etc.
4. Go back to number 1 if this is less than %50. If greater, then onto 5. ( Looking for equity )
5. Look at tax's. IF current I PASS. If delinquent I CONTINUE. I/You/We want people who don't care. Delinquent taxes are great to find don't wanters. Also, this is where a new address may appear ( Taxes get sent to Owner, not property).
6. Send letter to subject. See if it comes back.
7. Keep diggin.
This is what I do all day long. Turn over stones.
Want to find vacant houses? Let the postman do it.
Investor · Cortlandt Manor, NY · Member since 2015 · 63 posts · 10 votes
11y
I've been struggling with this as well but i will share what has worked sorta for me the town has a data base with last known owners check that out then check if the taxes are up to date most likely they are not then have a lawyer (in new york anyway) find a forwarding address to them and write them a simple letter stating your intent for every ten i find i get at least one call or email although i have not closed one deal this way because most abandoned houses here are due to divorce or upside down mortgages and for that they are too much to purchase or very bitter to make any sort of real offer to sell
Just look on the county's property appraiser ( google ______ county property appraiser) and the owner's name and mailing address should pop up.....once you type in the address.
Contractor · Skippack, PA · Member since 2014 · 228 posts · 39 votes
11y
Property Records would be the first step. See if the owner is an absentee owner. If it shows the owners still live there try googling their name to see if you can find an obituary or something. This is honestly a very involved process. Every vacant house has a different route to the owners. Also if you know anybody with MLS access see if there are any outstanding mortgages on the house. I found plenty of abandoned houses with huge loans taken out against them and the owners "disappear"
Woodbridge, VA · Member since 2015 · 44 posts · 7 votes
11y
I am prospecting a house in a similar situation. I used the county website, guy is an out of state absentee. I googled his name and got his landline and the county records had his out of state address. Talked to his spouse and will follow up with a letter. The advise I got was don't get attached to the house but don't give up either if you think it fits your criteria and a deal could happen. Good luck
Specialist · Novato, CA · Member since 2012 · 190 posts · 57 votes
11y
Is there equity? Lots of vacant houses with debt.
1. Find name of Owner
2. Go to Grantor/grantee index ( county of subject )
3. Look for last transaction that would indicate some debt document/reconveyance etc.
4. Go back to number 1 if this is less than %50. If greater, then onto 5. ( Looking for equity )
5. Look at tax's. IF current I PASS. If delinquent I CONTINUE. I/You/We want people who don't care. Delinquent taxes are great to find don't wanters. Also, this is where a new address may appear ( Taxes get sent to Owner, not property).
6. Send letter to subject. See if it comes back.
7. Keep diggin.
This is what I do all day long. Turn over stones.
Want to find vacant houses? Let the postman do it.
Lender · Greater LA/Orange County area, CA · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
As my buddy @Mike Osterman alludes to, don't waste time unless there is plenty of equity.
If yes, I've created an exhaustive checklist in irder to 'reverse engineer' the property, debt and title.
After determining that the opportunity has merit, you need an entrance (and exit) strategy.
If you are trying to buy the asset (the property) then you need to find someone who has the ability to pass title to you, either owner or the person in charge of their estate, if deceased (or conservatorship, if owner has diminished capacity).
Finding owners and heirs can be very profitable. It ought to be since it's a lot of work. You are generally starting with clues and cues found in recorded documents of public records.
We use commercial online skip trace software and social media for starters. Hiring PI's can get costly and averages about $1,000 per prooerty with no assurance that the target principal will sign up with your proposal. And then, once signed, you still have to do whatever work is necessary to monetize the opportunity.
Great oaydays tracking hard to find people but it's only part of the success formula.