Where to go for a mailing list????

Question

I've recently used listsource for my first mailing list. I've targeted absintee owners who purshased their properties over 10+ years ago along with some other criteria.

After sending postcards to these owners I went online and did a little research on listsource. I wasn't happy with peoples reviews, some said that they had a high return rate from the wrong mailing address.

What have your guys been using? Or, have you guys had better results with listsource.

Chris Feltus · Answer

If you have basic database skills utilizing Microsoft Access, its very easy to query the data yourself. As others have pointed out, if you are near a metro area it will be easier to obtain solid data compared to more rural areas. The data is usually stored  in your counties tax or property appraisers website. If you are unable to find where this data is stored for your county from a simple google search use this website: http://www.netronline.com/

For instance I can query my counties database and find  absentee owners that live out of state and own property in my target market area, property with 15 year + deed dates (rough estimate for potential equity),  various tax exemptions such as age 65+ / veterans/ disabled etc, filter out bank owned properties, find estates that have not yet settled etc.

If you are not well versed in access or database queries, take some time and search around on google their are plenty of tutorials. It is well worth the investment of your time.

Seth Williams · Answer

I've found that the currency & accuracy of these lists usually depends GREATLY on which county you're trying to pull the information on.

List services are really just the intermediary. If the county doesn't update it's records in a timely fashion, then places like listsource won't be able to do any better. They can only provide the information they have available from each individual county (however outdated it may be).

For example, there is a very rural county in my state that literally takes more than a year to update their databases (it's pretty pathetic). If you're trying to get current information on any property in that county, you're gonna have a bad time.

In my experience, most counties that are near a major metro area tend to be relatively current, but the more rural they get, the worse the information is (this is a very broad statement, of course - every county is different). I think it has a lot to do with the county's budget. The less tax revenue they have available, the worse their systems are going to be.

If you want the most current information possible, I've found that it helps to order your list directly from the county. It doesn't get any more current than the information they have in their computers. It's definitely not the most "user-friendly" method, but it tends to take most of the uncertainty out of the equation.

Michael Quarles · Answer

Listsource is your best bet... Then run it through a NCOA system if you dont care about vacant houses.

Michael Quarles · Answer

Listsource is the premier site for property data. It is fed from First American Title and CorLogic.

Their data comes from both County Recorders Office and County Assessors Offices.

However there is one step that you may be missing. Which is running the list through the NCOA system. This system confirms or changes the forwarding address based upon Post Office forwarding address data.

Listsource would not run through this data as it then would not be correct data from a "What the Country Records says" standpoint.

Most direct mail companies will run this service for you as a free service for doing business.

One of the major problems with running through the NCOA system is that if youre looking for vacant houses and want vancant mail to be returned to you it wont necessarily be once ran through the system.

Hope this helps..

Michael

Mohit Madaan · Answer

I am offering free list for fellow investors who are currently doing marketing, check out my thread in market place.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/517/topics/131090

Account Closed · Answer

@Chris Feltus I just found the property assessment roll from my local county. Im just wondering how do I generate a lead from that. Sorry If I'm asking such a noob question. Im still learning haha

Chris Feltus · Answer

You likely will not be able to. That's why I said rough approximation. If someone has owned the home for 10-15 years, chances are there will be equity. Even the LTV and equity% lists you purchase from list providers cannot guarantee there will be equity. The home owner could have done a cash out refinance months ago and the list will not reveal that.

@Ceasar Blackman No experience with Click2Mail. However, I often read here on the forums that the quality of Click2Mails leads are suspect and most seem to recommend listsource over it. As @Seth Williams mentioned, list providers are really just acting as an intermediary. If you want the most current and accurate information there is no substitute for pulling the data yourself from the CAD.

Ceasar Blackman · Answer

@Chris Feltus thanks alot for that tip. Im def going to look into that . What are your thoughts tho on Click2Mail as far as a mailing list company. Hard to beat if 9 cents leads if you cant get them the way you suggested

William T. · Answer

This was an awesome suggestion....

Jason Walkowicz · Answer

I had to file a Freedom Of Information request and just told them exactly what I wanted and they gave it to me in electronic form.

Where to go for a mailing list????

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