how do I find out of town owners for free

Google the address of the property. Google the sellers name. Search the seller on Facebook. You never know what will show up.Look for hits from advertising sites like Zillow, Backpage or Craigslist. If the seller advertised on any of those sites there might be a phone number (pictures or anything else you find are also helpful).

Try the free search sites like Yellowpages.com etc.

If you can't find the seller on your own? Call the County Courthouse in the County where the property is located. The department you are looking for will probably be the Tax Assessor or County Treasurer (might be another name, every County is different)If you are only asking about one or two properties, you can have the clerk search the records and get the sellers info over the phone. Probably not gonna get a phone number, but ask where the tax bill is sent. If the billing address is different than the subject property use that address and start over from step 1.

I actually did this once too: Found an ad on Craigslist that had an incorrect e-mail address with no phone number, but the property address was in the ad. I found the property on Googlemaps and a gas station right across the street. I called the gas station and asked the cashier to put a note on the door with my phone number.

If you can't get them on the phone, just send a letter.

Where theres a will theres a way.

Good Luck!

good idea i will do all this now

is a great place to try to find phone number listed for free so long as you have a name and and address to start with.

Intelius, Zabasearch(dot)com, knowx(dot)com, anywho(dot)com, propertyshark (dot) com, or whitepages(dot)com may help in your search. Maybe 411(dot)com, too.