Properties Without Signs Up (Locating the owner)

One thing I stongly suggest on vacant properties is talk to all the nieghbors, not just about the owner but ask about the property. Get as much information as possible on what the history of the property is. They may something that happened to the property that is not disclosed.

It doesn't hurt to talk to the neighbors about ANY property you buy. Plus if you plan to hold the property, it's good to have a relationship with the neighbors anyway.

Is a great one. I do that most of the time before I even call owner to look at property. I like having all of my hens lined up BEFORE we speak. It gyves me a better footing and a little more to work with. Knowing the type of neighbor hod, neighbors and any prior problems with home, especially major with give me a upper hand on negotiations.

Anyone else want to share?

Today I looked at a pre-forclure. It looks cute from the outside but the inside needs allot work. But mostly cosmetic, so that ok. But after talking to the neighbor I find out allot more. For instance, the sewer main is broken in a few spots in the front lawn. Something that an inspector would not be able to pick up. Also the underneath the house totally floods in the winter. Without this knowledge one may end up paying to much for the house and end up breaking even or worse.

So I totally agree with Anita and eroberts, talk to the neighbors before you make any decisions

Zeek

Start by getting address of property and going to revenue office or plat room. They can give you current info on the person that is paying the property taxes and the key and plat number. You now have the owners address and you can google them for a telephone number.

Lets hear from you, what else would you do to locate the owner

the key and plat number?

D

Find evictions in process

A landlord that has bad tenants and wants them removed must file a notice of eviction with the court.

This is a great chance to contact them.

In many cases the landlord is sick and tired of dealing with renters and wants out.

To locate these owners find the office of the clerk of the court where evictions are filed for a list of those who filed within the past week. This is public info, and available to all.

zeek is spot on. The best deal I ever got was from a tired landlord.

How did I not think of that one. Thanks zeek I am on it this morning. I will have to write out a whoole new spill for this one to the owners but I may be sitting on a post of gold around here with that one.

I will go there too! Thanks!

I will go there too! Thanks!

Great info! Thanks everyone!

- Mark

just a re-post of some info that you may find helpful

If the neighbors know nothing about a property that's been sitting vacant for the past 3 years (like the one next to me has), where do I go from there? There are about five or six homes on my block that used to be occupied for a long time but are now vacant? How do I find the owners so I can make some bread?

that looking for tired landlords is a great idea. thanks. currently i'm looking for a person right now. the house was a settlement in a divorce and she couldn't handle the moragage by herself so they forcloused on the house. i went to the courts and got a appraisal card with the name and address of the new owners (some company). when i went to the address on the paper it was a house not a business. come to find out it was a fake address. so i got the name of the previous owner and she is going to school at a local college. they couldn't verify if she is enrolled (confidental) so i left my name and #. it's been only a day and she hasn't called. i also hand wrote a letter and mailed it to the house where she use to live, so hopefully her mail has been forwarded to her current location. the house is in a great location,it's disstressed but all cosmetic. the banks hire other companies to handle there foreclosures,so if i can find her and ask her what bank she went thru then i can find out what company that bank uses for there forclosures. the taxes are current but due this year. but i'll go ask neighbors as well tomorrow.
thanks everyone.

i in joy researching ive been to my local tax office and have run into a
little problem on some house that are in foreclosure they don't have address
they have GPS numbers.