Unlike in the old days, finding the legitimate owner of a property is now fast and hassle-free as long as you know where to look. There are plenty of useful resources, tools, and techniques that could save you lots of valuable time. So, here’s how to search for a property owner in 3 easy steps.
- Ask around
The first step is simply to ask around. A neighbor could often get you a name if not contact details. And if that doesn’t work, you can also walk around and inquire from any local shops or cafes.
Be polite and ensure that you introduce yourself. Clearly explain your intentions and why you are attempting to get in touch with the owner. This could put them at ease and make them more willing to share any information they already know, or at least to direct you to someone who does. And if you come across a chatty neighbor, you will be surprised by the amount of information you can get hold of. This could be an excellent way to find out about any historical details about the property, its previous owners or tenants, and other information useful for your purpose.
And if you’re looking to make an offer to purchase, this would be a great way to get a first-hand glimpse into the community and the type of neighbors you could be potentially sharing it with. Everyone wants to live next door to friendly, helpful neighbors, and this will create an ideal opportunity to find out.
- Do a reverse search
Your chats with neighbors or local businesses would have now gotten you a name, and possibly a contact number and some historical information. So, use this information to dig a bit deeper. Whatever details you have, use them to do a basic Google search. This can retrieve more related information by crawling trillions of indexed online records, from news reports to social media pages.
Nuwber can perform an even more comprehensive background check for you by sifting through not only free online sources but also paid databases, public records, and many other such resources. And if all you have is just the property address, Nuwber can even perform a reverse address search to retrieve details about current and previous owners for you. It can get you various useful information such as the owner’s contact details and any mortgages taken on the property.
US Realty Records is another important tool. Unlike Nuwber, this can only find details specifically relating to the property. However, they could still be extremely useful for your purpose. All you need is the street, city, state, and the ZIP code, and this site can quickly retrieve the current owner’s details. And in addition, they could provide photos of the property, and a range of other information such as the year it was built, the number of rooms, and property tax and value. This type of information could be quite useful if you are looking to purchase the property or if you’re a real estate agent hunting for a property on behalf of a client. However, bear in mind that there’s a chance it may not have your specific property in its database. Therefore, you may need to browse through other specialized property search sites.
- Access public resources
There are a number of useful public resources you can access to find out details about the owner of a property. While the information they can provide is limited in nature, they are a great way to verify details you may have uncovered by now.
The Deeds Registry of the local area should be the first place to try. They hold various documents relating to legitimate ownership of properties, which can range from deeds to mortgage information. And many of these details are even available online now, so you can easily browse their databases using the property address.
The tax assessment office in the area is another useful source of information. Since all properties are taxed, this public office will for sure carry records of the legitimate owner of the property you are interested in. And similar to the Deeds Registry, many tax assessment offices have also taken their records online now. So, find out if their databases can be accessed on their website before paying them a visit.
It’s important to note that information is often provided by these public offices completely free of charge, and they can be accessed by just about anyone. Also, the details they provide often tend to be accurate and reliable.
A few last things…
Before you begin to search for an owner of a property, first identify why you need this information. Maybe you are interested in buying a particular house. If you are a real estate agent, you could be looking for homeowners who would like to list their properties with you. Or you could simply be trying to deliver a package on behalf of your company. Your objective will determine the type of information you require and, therefore, the tools and techniques you should use.
For example, if you are looking to make an offer for a home in a great suburban neighborhood, then it makes every sense to dig deep into details of both the property and its owner. You would want to find out about the property’s history, its previous owners, as well as the reputation of the present owner before you decide to enter into a business transaction. For instance, if the property owner has a criminal history, you might want to think twice before making an offer. Therefore, in such situations, it would be useful to access a paid service to retrieve more in-depth information. On the other hand, if your requirement is not very critical and does not require much information, then a quick search using free resources should be adequate.
Therefore, determining your objective and the type of information you require could help you identify the easiest and most cost-effective route to find out the information you need.
