Look for listings on real estate sites with keywords such as “immediate possession,” “must sell,” “below market value,” or “under appraisal. " These properties are likely recently abandoned, or may have been subject to foreclosure. If you’re looking for abandoned houses to photograph or explore, you may be able to find an online forum or website that covers abandoned houses and other properties in your area. [3] X Research source
Look for signs of abandonment, such as an overgrown yard or boarded-up windows. Multiple for-sale signs in the yard also may be a sign that the place has been abandoned – especially a sign that says “For Sale by Owner. " If you see a house that looks abandoned from the road, find a public place nearby where you can park and get a closer look from the sidewalk. You need to be cautious about trespassing on private property, so it’s probably best if you don’t pull straight into the driveway.
If you’re interested in purchasing the house, the neighbors may be able to give you some information about the people who previously lived there. Neighbors may be able to fill you in further on the extent of the house, or how long it’s been since someone lived there. If the place is truly an eyesore, they may be aggravated enough about the situation to talk about it at length. You may want to consider taking notes if they have any concrete information you can use to get information about the house. Ask them for contact information in case you want to get in touch with them later on.
If the mailbox is stuffed full of letters, check the date on the outside of the envelope at the bottom. That will give you an idea of the last time the mail was checked. Overgrown grass and untended gardens can provide signs as to how long the house has been abandoned, especially during warmer months. If there are weeds growing through cracks in the driveway, that indicates no one’s used the driveway in awhile. If you can locate the power meter box, check to see if the power is running or if the master switch is off. If the power’s off, the house typically is unoccupied and may have been for awhile.
Even if the person’s name is not on a deed or any other ownership document, the last person to pay the property taxes is the last person who had responsibility for the property. It may not be an individual, but rather a bank or mortgage company.
You can do online search for public records about the last known owners to try to locate who currently controls the property. One of the easiest ways to find a property owner’s name is to go to the county tax assessor’s office and find out who last paid property taxes for the property.
If you have a name on a deed, that person may be fairly easy to locate. However, if the last owner on record has died, or if the property has changed hands several times, it may be difficult to figure out on your own who owns the property or how to get in touch with them. Send a postcard or letter to the last known owner and explain your intentions. If you plan to take photos let them know, and offer to send them digital copies. Stress that you do not intend to disturb anything or cause a nuisance.
Sometimes police are willing to escort urban explorers visiting abandoned property, especially if the property has been abandoned for a long time and is well known in the community. Go to the police station in person and explain your intentions. If you’ve previously explored and photographed other abandoned places, you might bring along some examples of your work.
Make sure your mobile phone is charged and check its signal regularly while you’re exploring. Wear hiking boots or steel-toed boots to protect your feet, along with jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. You may want to bring a mask to cover your face in case you run into dust, mold, asbestos, or other material you shouldn’t be breathing.
If you got permission from the owner to explore the property, follow up with them after your exploration by sending them a thank you card or email with digital copies of any photos you took.
If you’re looking at contacting a bank or mortgage company, a phone call typically will do. Explain who you are and your interest in the property. Someone should be able to find information for you. If you don’t get a response after a month or so, assume that the person either no longer has an interest in the property or that the address you have for them is no good.
If you just want to know who the owner of the property is, you can check with the county for free. Although your real estate agent can’t do a title search, they may request one from a title company on your behalf.
If you live in an area where abandoned houses are common, it’s likely there is such a law in place. An attorney also can help you if you want to purchase an abandoned house but are having trouble locating the owner of the property.
Because of the work involved to rehabilitate a house that’s been sitting empty for awhile, abandoned properties typically can be purchased for very low rates. If you’re going to buy the house, get estimates on the work to be done on it, so you can quote these figures back to the owner. The owner may be behind on property taxes. When you purchase the house, part of your offer amount should go to pay those back taxes, as your taxes should be prorated to begin after you purchase the home. Before you sign your contract, make sure that it addresses the back property taxes.
