Starting Out
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback
Updated about 5 years ago,
Should I follow-up with the owner?
I found a property that has been abandoned for over 30 years (exterior still looks great though.) The couple who previously owned it have been deceased since 2001. There was a third person on the records I received from Tax Assessors, listed as the "care giver/tax payer". I made contact with this person, and she said she did in fact inherit the house and she has been the one paying taxes on it. But, i'm curious. If that's the case, why is she not listed as the owner on county records instead of simply the tax payer?
Also, she sounded happy that I contacted her and she thanked me for offering to help her out of her situation by taking the property off her hands saying "that would be nice". But, she was busy at the time, and also said she wanted to think about it.
I'm also pretty sure I am the only person who has made contact with her in regards to taking this property off her hands ever since she inherited it, (trust me, it took ALOT of work/digging & LUCK to reach her...) so I'm not too worried about someone making an offer any time soon, but I don't want to miss the opportunity due to legal reasons, such as her not paying taxes (she owes 2018 & 2019 taxes). I also don't want to be too aggressive by blowing her up and cause her to ignore me, - especially since I made the mistake of telling her SHE could contact ME at a more convenient time (rather than saying I could call HER another time...)
What should I do now? Wait for her to contact me? -Or... should I go ahead and follow up with phone calls/emails/direct mail?