How to Find the Name of an Owner of a House

Finding the name of a home owner can be frustrating, particularly if the house is vacant. Whether you are interested in buying a house or concerned about the state of a vacant property, knowing the owner's name is essential to any actions you hope to take. Locating the name of a property owner is not a difficult process, although it can be time consuming if your county does not offer information services through the Internet.

Things You'll Need

• Property address

Instructions

1. Enter the property address in the WhitePages.com free reverse address directory. After you enter the street address, city, state and zip code, you will be provided with the names of the people residing at that address. If the people living in the home do not own the property, they will be able to provide you with the name and contact number of the owner.

2. Search online for the appropriate county website if the reverse address directory does not provide results. Your county may offer property ownership information online. If it does, you may be able to find this information by looking for links to the tax assessment or property appraisal department.

3. Enter the complete property address in the online property search boxes provided to receive the name of the home owner.

4. Visit the tax office or property appraisal department in person if the county does not provide home ownership information online. Call or check the county website before visiting to obtain operating hours for the department and the amount of any applicable fees. Fees may be charged if you request a copy of any documents.

5. Provide the clerk with the address of the property and pay any fees that may be charged to obtain the owner's name.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes the simple approach is the best approach to get the information you need. Ask neighbors for home ownership information if you don't care if they tell the owner that you have been asking for this information.

• If the house is located in a rural area and you can't find an address on the house or the mailbox, you may want to visit the Recorder of Deeds office to determine the correct address of the home. You will be permitted to view a map of the area, which will provide you with the parcel or lot number of the property. Once you know the parcel or lot number, you can visit the tax assessment or property appraisal department and obtain the owner's name.

References

• How to Investigate: How to Conduct a Basic Background Check
• Earth Link: How to Conduct a Historical Investigation

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• White Pages: Reverse Address Directory