Finding accurate property owner information is one of the most valuable skills for any real estate investor. Whether you’re trying to contact an owner about a potential deal, verify ownership before making an offer, or research off-market opportunities, knowing who owns a property is crucial.
This guide walks you through the most effective ways to find property ownership details using both public records and modern real estate software. It’s designed to help investors, agents, and buyers save time while getting reliable results.
Before proceeding with the steps, it’s essential to understand why property owner information is so valuable in real estate.
Investors use owner information to identify motivated sellers, contact absentee owners, or negotiate directly with property owners. This can lead to off-market deals that aren’t listed publicly and often have better profit potential.
If you’re buying a home, confirming the property’s legal owner helps protect you from scams or title disputes. For sellers, verifying ownership records ensures a smoother closing process.
Lenders often verify ownership before approving loans or refinancing. Agents use the same data to verify listings or contact potential clients. Simply put, ownership data is the backbone of every real estate transaction.
Determining who owns a property can take several different paths, depending on the property's location and the resources available in your area. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
Start with the basics. You’ll need:
Having accurate location details will significantly speed up your search.
Your first stop should be public property records. These are usually available through the county or city government.
Look for these offices:
Many counties now offer online search portals that allow you to enter an address or parcel number and instantly view the property owner's information.
If the county doesn’t have an online database, you may need to visit the office in person or make a request by phone or email. Some offices charge small fees for copies of property records.
Tip: The name on a property record might belong to a trust, LLC, or title company rather than an individual. You may need to research further to identify the true owner.
While public records are accurate, they can be time-consuming to search through. Many investors now rely on real estate data platforms to find owner information more efficiently.
Tools like DealMachine make it easy to look up ownership information in minutes. You simply type in an address, and the system pulls data directly from county records, plus much more.
Here’s what you can typically find:
With DealMachine, you can even access contact information for property owners and renters directly inside the app. That means you can reach out to potential sellers right away, without needing to manually track down their phone numbers or email addresses.
If you’re cross-checking ownership data, you can also use:
These resources complement one another to provide a comprehensive view of ownership and property status.
Once you’ve found the listed owner, double-check the information for accuracy. Verify:
If you plan to reach out to the owner, ensure you have the most up-to-date contact information. Inaccurate or outdated data can result in wasted time and missed opportunities.
While finding property owner information is public and legal, how you use it matters. Many states have strict laws regarding privacy and data use.
Here are a few guidelines to follow:
DealMachine and other reputable platforms comply with these regulations, helping ensure your searches remain ethical and lawful.
For real estate investors, time is equal to opportunity. Manually searching through county records can take hours or days. DealMachine simplifies this by offering:
With one app, you can locate properties, uncover owner details, and make contact, all in minutes. This saves valuable time and gives you a competitive edge in finding motivated sellers before other investors do.
By combining traditional research with modern software, investors can uncover property ownership details faster and with greater accuracy than ever before.
1. How can I find property owner information for free?
You can find property ownership information for free through your county recorder or tax assessor’s website. Some counties require in-person visits or charge small fees for copies.
2. Can I find the owner’s phone number or email address?
Public records usually don’t include contact information. However, apps like DealMachine use skip tracing to find phone numbers, emails, and mailing addresses.
3. What if the property is owned by an LLC or trust?
You can search the state’s business entity database to find out who manages or owns the LLC. Trusts may require additional legal steps to identify beneficiaries.
4. Is it legal to contact property owners directly?
Yes, but always comply with privacy laws and refrain from using property owner information for spam or harassment. Professional investors use this information responsibly to make legitimate offers.
By mastering how to uncover property owner information, you’ll have a powerful advantage in finding and closing real estate deals. The key is combining reliable data sources with smart technology, such as DealMachine, to work faster, stay compliant, and achieve better results.