Find Your Next Real Estate Deal
Search Now

6 Ways to Find and Contact the Owner of a Property

Jerry Norton

Nov 17, 2023

When you're searching for leads for your next real estate investment, finding and contacting the owner of the property to get the conversation started is the challenge. 

So how can you find and contact the owner of a property?

Even better, how can you do so for free?

In this article, we’ll break down specific ways — both free and paid — you can speak directly with homeowners and inquire about investment opportunities so that your next real estate investment can be your best one yet. 

Why You May Want to Find and Contact The Owner of a Property

Before we get into the ways to find and contact the owner of a property, let’s break down why you should do so. 

As a real estate investor, you have access to many sources of information that give you an idea of which properties are available for sale. 

There are times, however, when a property hasn't been listed on the market but the owner is open to selling — and potentially selling fast. 

While you could place marketing materials throughout different neighborhoods to reach these owners, this method may not be the most effective both cost and time wise in today’s digital-first world. 

You need cost effective ways to reach the owner of a property, which is exactly what we’ll discuss next. 

Ways to Find and Contact the Owner of a Property

Propwire

Propwire offers industry-leading real-time MLS and off-market property data that can be used to find the owner’s contact information. 

Once you find the property you are interested in, you can instantly retrieve an owner's phone number, email address, and other valuable information by conducting a skip trace. 

It’s an easy, simple, and quick way to find and contact the owner of the property, which is why Propwire is trusted by thousands of real estate professionals. 

County Tax Assessor Office

Depending on your situation, among the most effective techniques for finding information about the owner of a property is to conduct a search at the county tax assessor office. 

If you didn’t already know, the county tax assessor office can be a tremendous resource for new and experienced real estate investors. 

When an individual owns a property, he or she must pay taxes on it. Records of this information are available from the county tax assessor. 

Keep in mind that you may not have to visit the tax assessor office to reap these benefits. Depending upon your region, you may be able to access the same information directly on the tax assessor's website. 

Obtaining the necessary information is also much simpler if you already have the identification number of the property in question. 

This number could be labeled as AIN, APN, or STRABL depending on the county you're in. 

The best aspect of this method?

The information is free, making the tax assessor office a great place to find and contact the owner of a property. 

County Recorder/Clerk

You can also find and contact the owner of a property by visiting the county recorder or clerk. 

If you only need to obtain the owner's mailing address and name, the best option is to contact the county tax assessor. 

However, the county recorder is ideal when you need more information and documentation. 

The types of documents you can find at a recorder's office include: 

  • easements 
  • mortgages 
  • tax liens 
  • trust deeds 
  • notice of sale 
  • bill of sale 
  • mechanics liens
  • And more 

While the search itself is entirely free, you'll need to pay a fee to gain access to many of these real estate documents. 

This fee can vary depending on the county the property's located in. 

Title Company

Another option to find and contact the owner of a property is to get in touch with a title company and ask them for a Focused Real Estate Marketing (FARM) list. 

The fields that you can use in a search include: 

  • mailing address
  • name 
  • nearby neighbors 
  • comparable sales
  • property characteristics

While you can use general lists to find the information you're looking for, keep in mind that creating custom lists and reports will cost a considerable sum of money. 

Also, most title companies expect investors who seek this information through them to give them additional business in the future. 

Utilizing this method can not only help you find and contact the owner of a property; it can also help grow your network for all your current and future title needs. 

Property Deed Search

When someone purchases a property, local officials will record the property deeds and any changes in ownership. 

They are required to maintain these ownership records, which is why performing a property deed search can help you find and contact the owner of a property. 

You can ask for a property deed search at the county recorder's office. 

You could also find this information online, depending on where the property is located, which could be in a city or rural setting. 

When you perform a property deed search, you'll also receive information on existing liens. 

If you have lot, plot, and block numbers, your property deed search will be much easier.

Knock on the Door

If you have a specific home that you're interested in — a home that you can’t get off your mind — you should consider taking the most direct approach, which involves knocking on the door and asking for this information. 

Mention that you're a real estate investor who's interested in their property. 

Keep in mind that some homeowners may be wary about visitors. 

In this scenario, you could leave a letter or note that explains that you'd like to make an offer on their property. 

If you do, make sure you leave your contact information. 

Mailing List Data

An additional solution you shouldn't overlook is finding the property owner by obtaining mailing list data. 

Mailing list companies offer services that allow you to get in touch with a list broker, after which you'll tell them what information you're looking for and the types of properties you're targeting. 

They'll then work on creating a custom mailing list for you. 

While this solution is effective and can be completed quickly, the cost may be high, and the information has the potential to be outdated. 

Once you receive mailing lists, make sure you update them frequently. 

The Bottom Line: Ways to Find and Contact the Owner of a Property

Not every property will be found on the MLS, and by using these specific methods, you can find and contact the owner of a property — and inquire about purchasing it. 

You may find that one of these methods works well for your specific region, while another method may not; in the end, find and utilize the most cost and time-effective real estate lead strategy to help you grow your real estate investing business. 

This will help you find your next (and potentially) most profitable real estate deal yet.