America is home to countless vacant properties and pieces of undeveloped land. They can hold amazing potential, but not if it’s unclear who owns them. Figuring out whose name is on the deed of a vacant property can allow interested parties to learn about the building or land’s history in addition to finding out how to get in touch with the home- or landowner.
The Problem with Identifying Property Owners
The problem is that there is no one unified system for searching property deeds. Some jurisdictions have easy-to-use online portals, but most do not. In rural America, in particular, interested buyers may need to make an in-person visit to the county clerk to retrieve information about current property owners, which can create a whole host of new hassles.
A Thoroughly Modern Solution
The simplest solution to determining who owns a vacant property that looks ripe for development is to visit propertyscout.io and use the company’s deed search feature. Users will be able to find out not just the property owner’s name but also their home ownership history, other addresses listed under the same name, and where the person currently lives. Given how affordable the service is, that’s the best place to start.
Doing Things the Old-Fashioned Way
Some people still insist on performing their own property records research, and that’s fine for those who have a lot of free time and plenty of patience. Doing things, the old-fashioned way typically means starting with a search of the register of deeds at the county clerk’s or county recorder’s office. When in doubt, asking for information about where to go at the town hall can be a helpful way to get started.
The deed itself is a matter of public record, and the local authority responsible for maintaining those records should have an up-to-date copy. However, every state has different standards for what information it needs to convey. All deeds contain the identity of the grantor and grantee, or the previous and current owner, and the addresses they used when the deed was filed, plus a detailed description of the property, but may not have up-to-date contact information.
In this case, as well, there are both old-fashioned and more modern ways of going about things. People interested in the property can knock on the neighbors’ doors or ask around town, which can yield results in exceptionally small towns where most residents know each other, but there’s no guarantee that the owner of the property lives nearby or that locals will give accurate information. When that happens, DIY property researchers are left back at square one.
The Most Sensible Solution Is to Use the Best Available Tools
Some associate property records search with banks, real estate agencies, and other larger organizations. However, there is no reason that individual people who want to track down information about a property can’t use the same advanced tools for their own searches. Instead of wasting time and creating headaches, make use of the best available tools and trust a professional property search company.
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