How To Take Over A Vacated Property???
There's this house that has been sitting vacant and untended to for several years. It's in an up and coming neighborhood near major colleges. Efforts to get a response from the owner(s) have been futile. This house is slowing melting away from neglect. My question is, are there ways to take possession of a house where the owners obviously have no intention of doing anything with it, and appear to have deserted it? In a couple more years, it will be a total eyesore, but right now, it may be salvageable. I suspect it may be one of those heir or estate situations where NO ONE wants to give an inch to fix the situation. Any ideas?
If you just move in and live there seven years or so you can apply and be granted possesion of the property. The time is reduced if you pay property taxes and maintain the property.
Squatter's rights? But the property needs work, which I'd have no intentions of doing without owning. It just seems illogical to me that a municipality would allow a home to be abandoned and neglected year after year.
Have you tried to find out where the property tax bill is being sent? Are the property taxes current? if they are, the owners are around, you just havent found them yet. If not, check out the tax lien situation in your state. You may be able to acquire it that way.
You could hire a private investigator to find the owners of the property for you.
If you know the property owners names, check past obituaries, Look for heirs etc.
Failing all else, find out all you can about "Adverse Posession". This is all about taking over abandoned properties of which I know next to nothing. There was a post on this website a few months ago about adverse posession, and there were some awesome responses there.
Good luck,
Jeff
Several great ideas above. Also check with neighbors as they may know where the owners are. Check all the same last names in the phone book for sons and daughters, aunts etc. If you can get in look for signs of where they may have gone or how long since they lived there. Send a certified letter with address correction requested, it may come back with new address. A few more ways to help look
Good LUCK and Thank You
Hope this helps some
Ted Jr
Order a property report for the property see what is owed on the property, back taxes, mtg, liens, after doing that go to the court house and see what the laws in your area are pertaining to abandon buildings. You had no info in your profile to be able to direct you any further. Most counties will give a deed to the sherriff to be able to see the property. Thay have done this in my area for as little as $1.00. Hopes this helps
Making A Living:
I Posted in a forum last Year or so here on TCI with some tips you might want to consider, TCI Forum:
http://www.thecreativeinvestor.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=367&forum=16
"Adverse Possession"
I hope this helps!
Derrick [ Edited by DerrickAli on Date 01/20/2004 ]