Puerto Rico’s Abandoned Properties

[Tsedey B.]

Does anyone have any information on how to contact owners of abandoned properties in Puerto Rico? Or contact the government agencies that would have information in connection with these properties? I understand that there are issues with inheritance laws and unpaid property taxes for many of these properties but surely there is a way to figure out this mess and get these properties sold and utilized. Please let me know if you have any information.

[Kathryn Morea]

@Tsedey B. - Are you spending some time in Puerto Rico? I live in the San Juan area and agree there are a ton of abandoned properties all over the island.  The municipalities here began a new program in November 2020 to eminent domain blighted/abandoned properties and sell them.  There is a court process they go through which does take some time (6 months).  It just started, and there's a lot of properties !  I'm involved in the program restoring some of these properties once they have gone through the process.  I am still learning more about it and will have more answers over the next couple weeks/months.  The properties I am seeing have been abandoned 10 years or more, but many still have good structure.   As for other properties, you can use websites showing tax records here https://www.crimpr.net/ and perhaps use skip tracing services like TLO to find owners.  (I haven't done this personally).  Like you, I see the opportunity here.