Vacant property owners & investor tactics

[Rodney Dixon]

I have found 15 vacant properties in my area that are all over a year tax delinquent. The problem is, I can not find the owner to any of them. Their tax mailing addresses are different from the actual property address and I've sent numerous letters to each one of them at their tax mailing addresses but still have had no success in getting in contact with them. What can I do to gain ownership besides paying the back taxes, waiting for 2 years to come up and then filing the application for tax deed, going to the deed sale and purchasing the deed by being the highest bidder?