Can't find the owners of empty houses

[Tammie Crainich]

Hello All, I am new to bigger pockets podcasts and forum. I have been a real estate investor for a whole month. 😊 I will be the wholesaler that rehabbers and other investors come to rely on. I love marketing and will stop at nothing to find a deal. That being said, I have found many sad and empty houses that would make great wholesale deals...if I could find the owner. I have the owners name. Checked the taxes, the taxes were paid. I have Googled, looked at all social media platforms, drive by different times of the day to look for neighbors and nothing. Is there a rock I haven't looked under or is it time to just give up on these? I have considered taping a contract to the door. Any ideas? TIA.

[Larry Higgins]

I would definitely skip trace the owner and try to reach them on the phone.  If you can't reach the owner directly, or the owner is deceased, don't hesitate to call the relatives.  That will make a difference in whether or not you get some deals.

You can mail them, but when you mail you can lose weeks or months potentially if the letter gets returned, and even if it's not returned you never really know if the right person actually got the letter.  Also, with distressed vacant houses, I've come across multiple owners that had received mail from investors and they wanted to sell, but they didn't call any of them because they didn't think they could for some reason, or they needed help they weren't aware we can provide to get the house sold.  I was able to get the deals just because I got them on the phone and was able to talk to them and let them know I could take care of everything.

Vacants are GREAT leads.....GOOD LUCK!