The family is searching for new digs. I have already seen a few obvious scams on craig’s list, but I am worried about the not-so-obvious.
Is there an online resource to find out who actually owns a house?
If in the US, the County Recorder holds the definitive list of owners of record.
They will have the info by legal description and/or street address (if in an incorporated city).
This may or may not be online - there are privacy concerns.
If in doubt, ask to see a utility bill, or better - a property tax bill.
A scammer will not have those in his name. Obviously, you need to see an ID which matches the name on the document.
^usedtobe is correct. Sometimes, however, you can’t have someone in the deed office help you over the phone. In most counties, however, you can call up the assessor’s office and ask for information regarding a property. They will typically ask how to identify the property. In all jurisdictions I’ve worked in, you can ID a property by address, but sometimes having the owner’s name or the parcel number makes it easier. Some counties and states have the information online and you can look it up yourself, but if you’re not familiar how to do so, it’s probably easier to call. Just do a web search for “[county] [state] assessment office” and you should get a link or at least a phone number.
So, check with the county’s assessment or deed recorder offices.
I can’t speak for other states but in Florida the clerk of courts for the county will have the information online.
Blockshopper.com also has the sort of information that you’re looking for, but it may not be up to date, and isn’t in every market. Also, be aware that landlords may have a separate corporation that technically owns each property. Finding out that 123 Main Street is owned by “123 Main, LLC” might not be particularly helpful.
Or the landlord might have hired a completely legitimate property management firm, which certainly won’t be the property owner. I’ve never used one, but for all the money they charge, they better not just give out the property owner’s information to just anybody.
At the very least, a corporation or other limited liability entity will have some of its officers or directors listed with the state’s corporation agency.
Unless you’re out in the sticks, always go for a property let through a reputable agency.
Go to the web site of the county that the property is in. You may need to look under the maps or tax part of their website.
In my county, a big county but not a very populous one, I can enter an address and see who owns the property, or enter a name and see what properties that person owns in the county. A construction contractor I worked for used this to place liens on property of non-paying customers.
Some of the information I can see is the date the house was built, a diagram of the property lines, taxes owed, name of owner, value of property, etc. Banks and other lending firms will use this information as a short cut for loan approval too.
Fiddle around on your county web site and the information you seek is probably there.