I was wondering if there is a way of purchasing homes that at least look abandoned? Is there a place I can go to and find out who the home belongs to?

You can go to your city county building and check with the recorder of deeds and property tax
Office.

All homes are owned by someone, a person, a company, the county or the state.

You can go to the county court house, the recorder of deeds will show who owns the property and if there is a lien on it. At the tax office they will have who the current tax bill is being mailed to and an address for them.