Flipper · Staten Island, NY · Member since 2014 · 116 posts · 31 votes
Ok. I'd like someone to answer this question in the most step by step manner as if you were talking to complete newbie on the concept of driving for dollars as well as tracking down information on real estate.
In the state of New York or New Jersey preferably, if I see a house while walking or driving and it either looks condemn or uninhabited , what is the best way to track down the owner in the least amount of time, for the least amount of money?
I have heard of some people using a skip trace service along the way to find owners. Can you recommend any cost effective ones?
Do you call the county and get a mailing address? Is there a way to directly get a number to call?
What if the owner died and no one else is on record? How do you follow up on that?
In NJ, the owner of the property can be found on the website http://www.njactb.org/
If ownership changed hands, it will take a month or two for updates.
Mail first class, and get the returned mail, and that is what you may want to skip trace on!
The cheapest way to do driving for dollars is to access the owner info on your county website. Now some of this info will be missing or wrong but who cares. You dont need every house you just need enough houses to get a few deals going. Spend nothing on this info.
People do use skip tracers and you can get them to work for you for as little as $25 per lead (maybe someone on BP can get a better price) but $25 can add up really fast if you arent getting any deals.
Learn to get your leads for free and you lead stream will never bankrupt you.
@Martin Sterling great question. I'm not sure of the abilities in your state, nevertheless, in Cali an agent that you are partnered with can search for ownership though the realest report.
This is one option to eliminate costs of attempting to find the landlord, a partnership with someone who can, not a faceless service that is gobbling up $25 every time you see a subject property.
In NJ, the owner of the property can be found on the website http://www.njactb.org/
If ownership changed hands, it will take a month or two for updates.
Mail first class, and get the returned mail, and that is what you may want to skip trace on!