You need to RECORD your option so it shows your interest in the property and clouds the title.

There is a house that I pass by frequently, looks abandoned, grass overgrown, no house number on it, tree limbs in the yard....so did some research on it and I believe the owner has died....she was like 97....I looked online in courthouse records and see someone with Power of Attorney....thinking its a relative who lives out of town...I have tried to track her down using the whitepages.com....but there are 50+ people with the same name.

Time has to pass for the company to established a track record with the credit.

Your ability to lease and later exercise the option could get wiped out.You might have a claim against the present owner but that is not so clear and might result is no financial gain.If you can not buy it is likely your option will become worthless if the foreclosure goes through.Is the option recorded?

I can find nothing else on the property records about any other liens.

Would I loan money or my credit to someone who has a track record of not paying their bills?

If you drive be a recently closed place, write down the address, look it up in the tax records and call the owner and tell him what you want to do.

These mom-and-pop investors typically do not keep good records and do not include all the expenses because they don't know any better.

Assuming you want to find local property...Why not get a list from the recorder's office (maybe a list you have to build) or let a title company supply one?

Interesting,Assuming that a person did have a bankruptcy or foreclosure in their past it can not be removed from the public records.