How would I identify the owner of a rental property?

[grasswire]

A unit in a fourplex is available in the exact location I want. It's managed by property agency. It has been vacant for six months; I don't think the property manager has done a good job for the owner.

I want to eliminate the middleman and make a proposal directly to the owner. I hate property management companies and think I can cut a deal with the owner that will be good for him/her, too.

How can I find out who owns the property? At the tax assessor's office? Any other way?

[Maat]

1. County Recorder's Office

All property owners are recorded via deed.

[grasswire]

2. thanks.......

...is that info ever available on the Internet? (It's in another part of my state.)

[Mabus]

5. depends

my county's property records, at least those identifying the owner and the property's value is posted but most of the counties surrounding me aren't.

google your county's name and see what comes up.

[AngryAmish]

3. But what if it is a land trust?

I'm just being difficult.

[bushwakker]

4. registry of deeds or town assessor

many assessors offices are online and you can find out the owner by entering the prop address. same with registry of deeds - many are online these days.

[Axiomatization]

6. Why would you want it......

If it has been vacant for 6 months?????

[grasswire]

8. the city is a renter's market....

...and there's nothing wrong with the property. I've seen it. Everything's fine. It's the EXACT location I want. 220 steps from the front door to the door of my closest family members. It's a little overpriced, and that's why I want to deal directly with the owner.

[2Design]

7. knock on new neighbor's door and introduce yourself and find

out landlord name

[ZenLefty]

9. Most county assessors have web pages

You can look up properties by address (or other criteria) and find out the owner, where tax bills are mailed to, the prior sales price, and a plethora of trivia about the property.

Or you can call a title company, and ask them to run an Ownership and Encumbrance report for you. They're usually free, but ask first.

There are regional differences from county to county, and state to state, but I usually start my search at the assessor's web page. I'm a commercial title officer in Denver, so this is part of what I do for a living.

[grasswire]

10. thanks

I didn't have much luck trying to find the info on the Internet. Guess I just don't know the method.