I was at a yard sale recently (I always keep my ears open at yard sales) and the owner starts telling me about this website...

Hello @Jesse Hopcus,During our conversation a couple of weeks ago I forgot to mention as to where I get my free probate leads.Here's the website: https://adtech.dailyjournal.com/legalAds/Is use this website for new probate leads for San Francisco and Sacramento counties.

Utilities are generally public and you can call them to get averages, taxes are public as well and can be pulled either from a assessor website or at their office, insurance companies can give you cash value and replacement value quotes by giving them an address, general rule for running calculations for vacancy is 5-10% of gross income, I have seen maintenance expenses all over the map (anywhere from $300-750 or a % of the rent - those vary depending on the number of doors in the deal as well as how much deferred maintenance has to be dealt with or how much rehab you are going to do to negate the deferred maintenance), contracted services, call a few landscapers and get quotes and use those for your analysis. 

That generally is enough to generate a ball park idea of value based on the NOI (net operating income) and whatever cap rate that type of property in that sub market is trading.

I was told that doing a search for Substitue Trustees on the Register of Deeds website is the way to go.

We were complaining about the bad cell reception in our house so the cell phone company told us they could put a tower on our land for $800/month. check if that land generates income or can generate income for you.

That is a silly practice that I see from time to time and truth be told would you offer money on something that you have no idea what income it's generating? 

What’s your favorite website to find an owner, based on address, on a small scale?

I sent them the info 4 days ago and all I have received in info I can see on the portal and county assessor website.

Sorry wrong button.An occupant.And if they are left with the unit and don't want to leave then you still need to go to the board for eviction.Have a look at the residential tenancy act on the ltb website (landlord and tenant board)Hopefully this help