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How to Skip Trace Real Estate

Jerry Norton

Aug 8, 2024

You found the perfect property that you want to invest in. 

You found the perfect property that you want to invest in. 

It may be a fix and flip or a rental property; either way, it’s in the right location, it’s the right size, and you even like the look of it. 

The next step is to find and contact the owner of the property, which can be a difficult task. 

That’s where skip tracing comes in. 

Skip tracing is an effective and affordable way to find and contact the owner of a property so that you can start the conversation about purchasing the property from the current owner. 

How much does skip tracing cost? How can you skip trace? Is skip tracing legal?

We’ll answer all these questions — and more — in this complete guide to skip tracing. 

What Is Skip Tracing?

Skip tracing earned its name because it involves finding the owner of a property who has “skipped” town. 

Skip tracing involves finding and calling a homeowner or property owner — who is otherwise difficult to find — so that you can inquire about purchasing the property. 

Real estate investors today are constantly looking for below the market deals, and that comes from distressed properties, many of which may have owners who have left not the area, but maybe the state entirely. 

If you can’t contact the owner of the property, there’s no below the market deal to be had. 

That’s where skip tracing comes in — it allows real estate investors to connect with home owners who have either skipped town or are difficult to get in touch with. 

Skip tracing isn’t just for real estate investing; it’s a term that’s also used to track down people for law-breaking offenses. 

Next, we’ll take a look at how skip tracing can be an advantage to many people within the real estate circle. 

Skip Tracing for Real Estate Investors

When an investor is interested in a property that's not listed for sale and wants to contact the property owner to make an offer, skip tracing is a highly effective technique that will provide this critical information. 

Skip Tracing for Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents are regularly tasked with representing clients who are interested in properties that aren't listed on the market. 

For example, agents who work with investors may need to search for the owners of distressed or vacant properties via skip tracing. 

Skip Tracing for Lenders

If a homeowner has left a property and stopped making payments, lenders can use the skip tracing process to find the owner and request payment before starting the foreclosure process. 

Is Skip Tracing Legal?

Skip tracing in the U.S. is legal to utilize under the condition that you’re not breaking the law to pull the information that you’re searching for.  

What Should You Look For in a Skip Tracing Service? 

While skip tracing can be done manually — conducting a comprehensive reverse search of a given specific address to identify the name of the property owner — skip tracing services today are effective and affordable. 

But there’s no question that some are better than others. 

That being said, what should you look for in a skip tracing service before handing over your debit or credit card?

  • trusted and reputable source 
  • up to date data. 
  • reasonable cost. 
  • provides in depth information instead of just a basic data pull 

How to Skip Trace with Propwire

Propwire offers one of the best skip tracing software today. The tool instantly retrieves an owner's phone number, email address, and other valuable information.

This includes:

  • Property owner’s name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Property value
  • Mortgage balance
  • Equity 
  • And more

And most importantly — all of this data is up to date, which puts you as a real estate investor in the best position to contact the current owner of a property you’re interested in purchasing. 

As far as cost, Propwire offers one of the most affordable options on the skip tracing market with just 10 cents per skip trace. 

With just a $20 deposit, you can skip trace 200 property owners today. 

The Bottom Line: Skip Tracing

Skip tracing in real estate is a highly effective process that involves finding a homeowner who has skipped town or the state altogether when you want to buy their property for your next real estate investment. 

Get started with Propwire’s affordable and up to date skip tracing tool today.