There’s always that one house in the neighborhood—the one with the overgrown yard, peeling paint, and maybe a mysterious air of long-lost charm. It might be the last holdout on a street of manicured lawns, or maybe it’s just quietly falling apart behind a fence and a No Trespassing sign. You’ve walked past it a hundred times. Maybe you’ve even daydreamed about fixing it up. But one question keeps popping into your head:
Who owns this place?
Here’s how to find out.
1. Start with the County Assessor’s Website
Nearly every property in the U.S. is recorded with the local county assessor. Visit the assessor’s website for your county and use their parcel search or property lookup tool. You can often search by street address or by using a map.
Once you find the parcel, you’ll typically get the owner’s name and the mailing address where the property tax bill is sent—which might be different from the abandoned home’s address. This is your first big clue.
2. Check the County Recorder’s Office for Free
The recorder’s office keeps public records of deeds, liens, and mortgages. If the property recently changed hands, was foreclosed on, or has legal complications, you’ll find traces here. These records can sometimes be searched online, but you may need to visit in person or request copies.
Tip: If the owner on record is a trust, LLC, or corporation, you can look up that entity on your state’s Secretary of State business registry to find the managing member or contact info.
3. Use Property Data Sites (With a Grain of Salt)
Websites like Realtor.com, Zillow, Redfin, and PropertyShark can sometimes provide ownership records, especially if the property has ever been listed for sale.
Just keep in mind: these are third-party aggregators, and their information may be outdated or incomplete. Think of them as a helpful shortcut, not a definitive answer.
4. Talk to the Neighbors
If you're comfortable knocking on a few doors, nearby neighbors can be a treasure trove of local knowledge. Someone probably knows the story: whether the owner passed away, moved, or just walked away from the property.
Bonus: This is also a great way to build community and learn more about your neighborhood's history.
5. Look for Foreclosure or Tax Sale Notices
If the home is in serious distress, it might be heading to auction. Check your county’s foreclosure listings or tax sale calendar. These often include public notices of upcoming auctions, including the names of owners or banks holding the lien.
6. Hire a Title Company or Real Estate Professional
If you’re serious about pursuing the property—whether to buy, invest, or just satisfy your curiosity—work with a title company or local real estate agent. They can run a full title search to uncover the chain of ownership and any legal complications that might not be obvious from a casual lookup.
7. Be Patient—and Persistent
Sometimes, the story behind an abandoned home is messy: probate issues, family disputes, bankruptcies, or banks holding onto properties after foreclosure. But with a little detective work, you can often get to the bottom of it—and maybe even unlock a unique opportunity in your neighborhood.
Why Would Someone Abandon a Perfectly Good House?
It’s easy to assume that an abandoned house must have been in terrible condition or owned by someone who didn’t care. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes a home that looks perfectly livable—or even beautiful—gets left behind due to more complicated reasons. The owner may have passed away without heirs. A family dispute might have tied the property up in probate court for years. Financial hardship, bankruptcy, or an out-of-state move can also result in a house being left to sit empty. In some cases, the home is owned by a bank or investor who’s waiting for the “right time” to sell, renovate, or redevelop. From the outside, it may look like a mystery—but inside, there’s often a very human story.
Final Thoughts
That crumbling craftsman or boarded-up bungalow may look like a lost cause, but don’t underestimate it. These forgotten homes often have hidden potential—and finding the owner is the first step to bringing them back to life.
If you’re curious about a home in your area and need help investigating it, feel free to reach out—we love a good house mystery!
