Found A Great Pre-foreclosure...but The Owner Is Nowhere

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I found a great 4 unit in LA.....the owner is delinquent. I have dropped off letters and cards, also my realtor sent a letter...no response. I talked to the neighbors, they haven't seen him either. I'm trying to be the "standout" person trying to help this guy out and come up with a solution for him. Any idea's would certainly be appreciated, thanks.

Comments(12)

  • EUREO17th January, 2004

    I am sure that many investors or their successful heirs already unloaded their PF package on that same prop. What makes your package any different? It's war out there and it should be treated that way.

    Did you check the mailbox? Was the grass wet? Was the mail piled up or the same has been taken away? If it isn't piling, I would even consider camping overnight in my car just to increase the chance to catch the elusive owner on time. But if it is, then don't even bother because in 70-ish % of the time, you'll not locate the owner at that house because he already moved. Go to the next one. There is plenty of deals if you know how to recognize them.

  • loon17th January, 2004

    Put your private eye hat back on. It just may be worth a little more research. The courthouse will have contact info, check for warrants, arrests or other legal info while you're there (often they're computerized, and self-service). Send another card via mail, marked "return service requested, do not forward" in case he/she's having mail forwarded, then you get the new address. Google the owner's name plus address and more info if it's a common name, might find useful info that way (like an eddress? Post yours on a TCI post here and a Google search could well find it!). If you can find the owner, you might be the only one to get to bend his/her ear. The news might be bad or good, but you'll be the one to find out first. Good luck.

  • dawn503519th January, 2004

    One message said to use a "post yours on a TCI post" on Google. I cannot
    find the TCI post on Google. What is
    he talking about. This is to find the
    owner of a vacant property.....How do I
    find him...the tax records do not give his
    current address....the post office won't help...a skip tracer in Phoenix costs $75 and doesn't guarantee he'll find them.
    HELPPPPPPPPP

  • jmartinezclark19th January, 2004

    Hello,
    I know who could do a skip trace for you at half the price of what you're being charged; you're only charged if you if the owner. If interested, e-mail me at **Please See My Profile**
    Regards,
    Julio

  • JeffAdams19th January, 2004

    Read the article titled "Driving For Dollars". This should help you.

    Jeff Adam
    [addsig]

  • bgrossnickle19th January, 2004

    You give it your best shot to find the owner, contact him, and then you move on. You can not get fixed on a single property. Part of the property's characteristics is that the owner is not motivated, unreponsive, etc. You can not make something out of nothing.

    My experience from vacant properties is that if they have been vacant for awhile there is a reason. The owner is an investor just waiting for appreciation, it was left to brothers who hate each other, owner has emotional involvement in the property, owner is old/drunk/crazy, just fill in the blanks.

    If the building has been vacant for some time the owner has probably received dozens of offers to buy. You are not the first to discover it. I find the best vacant finds are the newly vacant, or the ones where the owner is hard to find - meaning that the first letter is returned as undelieverable.

    Brenda

  • voyko19th January, 2004

    Brend...
    the property is not vacant. There are tenants in the other 3 units.

  • joel19th January, 2004

    Check out the Services tab up top. You will want to purchase the Dead Lead for $25 bucks. They will be able to track down your owner.

  • bgrossnickle19th January, 2004

    If it is not vacant then were do the tenants send their rent checks and what number do they call for maintenance?

    I am confused on how you have attempted to contact him. Have your letters been returned? If not then they are reaching the owner but he is not responding to your letters. Can you find his phone number in a reverse address lookup? Did you knock on his door. If your letters are returned then do a skip trace to find him.

    Brenda

  • tinman175519th January, 2004

    Contact the bank that is foreclosing on the property, the sheriff is required to make so many attempts then the property can be sold at the sherriff sale but you can make an agreement with the bank to buy the property without it actually going to auction. The bank would rather recoup some of their money the fastest way possible

  • GHatcher12320th January, 2004

    Also may want to check the court house for any pending or recent law suits, on the owner and see if there is an attorney of record. I have made contact in the past by locating the owners attorney.

  • yipes20th January, 2004

    www.findtheseller.com

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