Tips for Finding the Owner of Abandoned Properties Free or Almost Free Online Resources
First thing is to find the owner’s name. First try searching for property information at the Property Assessor’s office. For example in Los Angeles County you would go to:
http://maps.assessor.lacounty.gov/mapping/viewer.asp
Type in the address as you know it, you’ll get the property particulars as well as the parcel number. At the LA County’s Assessor’s site you can use the map on the side to get an exact address in the area if you’re not sure of the property’s street address. Next, take a look at the tax assessor’s office at:
https://vcheck.ttc.lacounty.gov/index.php or
https://vcheck.ttc.lacounty.gov/proptax.php?page=main and with the parcel number, check the tax records to see if the taxes are paid. If the property is trashed, holes in the fence and strange animals are coming in and out of there, chances are they aren’t paying the taxes either. You should be able to see the owner’s name listed there with their mailing address. If you do enough of these, it might be worth it to use a paid service like the ones below.Paid subscription:
www.propertyradar.com Let’s you search for owner and property information. Sign up for a free trial.
www.batchleads.com free sign up gives you 3 free searches a month. You can also search the Treasurer and Tax Collector for defaulted tax lien auction information.
http://ttc.lacounty.gov/proptax/auction_generalInfo.htmIf you have the owner’s name but do not have a current address.Try sending a letter with the words RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED. DO NOT FORWARD
written on your letter (under your return address) in bold capital letters. If they put in a change of address, you should get back your letter with the new forwarding address from the post office.To check if owner has passed away, try going to
www.ancestry.com, click on “search records,” then click on “social security death record.” You can also do a general search for anything else that might come up under the name.
If the owner is deceased, you can usually find an informant, (relative or friend), who might still be at the same address. www.vitachek.com.
For a free people and company finder try
www.zabasearch.com You will need to know the city and state of the person. Try searching www.usasearch.com first.
Paid search services
Get Unlimited Leads allows you to search the owner’s name for free on the main page. That search will give you a list of names along with cities and ages of people with that name, you’ll have to pay to get the exact addresses. With this search you can go back to your free searches – search name and city this time.
Finally, do a www.google.com search for any other owner information. See if the owner is on any social media like Facebook, LinkedIn etc. If the owner is a corporation, you might be able to find current information on
AI-enhanced real estate data provider nationwide. Ask the neighbors if they know anything about where the owner went without sounding suspicious. I found that sending a personal handwritten letter works great. Just say to them exactly you’re looking to do…like, I’m interested in purchasing your house! Leave your cell phone number and email for them to get back to you. If they don’t contact, you then follow up with a phone call to make sure they got your letter!
You get them to open your letter by handwriting the envelope and using a return address. Put a first-class postage stamp on it and send it by regular mail.
Happy Investing.
