Condemned Houses... Who owns these things?

[Dylan DeBellis]

Ok, So recently I was "Driving for Dollars" as they put it... and I took notice to a lot of boarded-up houses with condemned signs plaster on the front. 

I was wondering how does one find out who owns these things? 

My team would be more than happy to buy these in cash and rehab them (obviously most people on here would be) I mean isn't a newly rehabbed house a lot more attractive than those boarded-up eyesores? Fixing them will raise the surrounding property value and also reduce crime. it's honestly a win-win... 

But who owns them? 

Any advice on how you find this info out or a good place to start would be greatly appreciated! 

[Marc Winter]

Try contacting the municipality code enforcement or licensing/permit departments for a list of condemned properties.  Use that municipality or county tax records office to find the owner.  This is all very basic stuff.

Just keep in mind that in many towns and cities, buying a condemned property means the building must be brought up to current codes.  Often that means all systems, ie, electric, plumbing, mechanical, etc must be inspected and approved with the current code regs.

It's best to know BEFORE you buy or try to wholesale what exactly the powers-that-be will require to un-condemn and give the property a c/o so it can be inhabited again.