Help needed (computers & real-estate)

[AlecBGreen]

Wierd title, I know. Heres my question - there is a nice old house two blocks away that appears to be vacant. My wife and I would like to get a place of our own, start building equity and stop pissing away rent money. This house is old and in need of some work and has no visible occupants. There is no "For Sale" sign but I would like to check its status i.e. who owns it and what its appraised value is. Can this information be found online? Maybe we can contact the owner and make them an offer... Thanks DU!

:hi:
Alec

[mwooldri]

1. How about local county tax records?

Here in our county (Guilford County, in NC) we can go online, key in an address to an online database and see who owns what. If you're in Greensboro itself, the city has a nifty map system that allows you to look at a map of the property lines and you can click on each property parcel and get all kinds of information on it.

Again it depends on which county and in which state. I'm sure it is available online.

Mark.

[lpbk2713]

2. Your county's website would be the starting point.

From there maybe the Property Appraiser or the Clerk of the Court.