All Forum Posts by: Brenda E.

Actually, it's a property that is currently a dilapidated house, but it is located in what is now a commercial district.  I am looking at it to keep as the beginning of my investment portfolio. I have a friend who is renting a  boutique right down the street and I am looking to develop and rent to her and another renter (the district allows for multiple uses that are limited to a certain size each - The land  has the ability to have 3 possibly 4 commercial/retail rentals on it.

Another longshot - Put an ad in the paper that you're searching for next of kin - illegitimate children can come out of the woodwork!

Ibrahim is right on the money, got to the town Treasurer and go to the county registry of deeds.  The employees are extremely helpful and will show you how to look up deeds, liens, mortgages, etc., but don't discount Eliott Elias' answer. Look up the owner's obituary. It should say who he is survived by, then track them down. They may not have ever gone through probate because it costs a few hundred dollars and no one it chomping at selling it. Six years seems like a long time, but if there are 5 or 6 children, they may only see each other once every year or two, and may have not made any decision yet.

I found an abandoned property - like abandoned for 75 years.  I did my research: the owner was dead. I found his widow, who, at 92, was living in another county with one of her children.  I knew the family must know about the property, as the taxes has been paid. I wrote a letter asking if she would be interested in selling the property.  I did not hear from her, so I wrote to her again a year later.  I still heard nothing from them, so I figured they didn't want to sell.  Another year later, I checked the status of the property again, and to my surprise, they sold it to a developer literally 2 weeks before I checked on it again!  The amount was what I would have paid, but they never contacted me. 

I found another property of  similar status (abandoned for about 50 years).  The same thing happened.

Now I found another one - I have told no one where it is. It has been abandoned for 50+ years; owned by the owner for 100+ years. The owner is dead; his wife is dead; the real estate taxes go to their daughter who is 70+ years old and lives in another county.  I don't want to lose this property, so what do I write, or what should I do to make an offer and make sure my offer isn't disregarded.  Do I send it certified? Do I give a sob story? Do I have a lawyer write it? Do I put an amount in the letter? Do I justify the offer? Do I offer to pay for their lawyer or offer to do the title search for them so it'll cost them nothing?  

What should I do???  Thank you anyone for your help!

@Taneisheo Ferguson, Well, we decided to buy it and deal with the problems ourselves. We negotiated the price down about 7.5% (my original offer was about 15% less than the asking). So far, we've signed a Purchase Agreement; suppose to pass mid January; hopefully there will be no problems. As I said to Kiersten, if you want me to look into yours and give you some pointers or leads, I'd be happy to - send the address through a direct message, if you want. Good Luck!

Kiersten, There should be a "c/o"  on the deed of a company and an address. You can call them, ask them for an email and send a letter; or if you want to send me the address, I'll do some digging for you. I actually like doing it.  I'm in Massachusetts, so I won't be running down to grab it from you - if you want to see what I can find out, I'll be happy to!

You are right Ned, I apologize and stand corrected. Having been an assessor, I was thinking of assessment values and conflated the two. Forgive me. I will double-check what the heck I'm saying before I say it next time! LOL ;-) ! But seriously, thanks for correcting! 

The previous owner dug out hit lot, and this is causing my property to "sink" into it. The foreclosure Trust initially told me to get quotes for a retaining wall and send photos of the properties, but once I did, and they saw them, they told me they would be selling the property "as is" with no guarantees or warranties" and stopped all conversation with me. 

I think not disclosing it would be fraud; all I want is my property cured, so I want a lien for the value of the quotes I received to construct the wall.  I don't want someone buying it and then I have to sue them and then they have to sue the previous owners for non-disclosure. Just trying to catch the owner before its sold to a non-suspecting family or investor.

I'll give them a call Monday, Thanks!

An abutting property is causing problems with my property due to the actions of a former owner. The property is now owned by a Trust through foreclosure, and they refuse to work with me. I want to put a lien on the property so they can't sell it without new owners knowing about the issue if they do their due diligence.  Has anyone done this or does anyone have any suggestions? Would it be a restraining order, a no trespass or a nuisance,or a combination therof, or something different? The property is in Massachusetts.

Any ideas or help would be appreciated!