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rasta4we · Mar 27, 2010, 01:01 PM

I am looking at take ownership of abandon properties, what must I do to take legal possession?

ballengerb1 · Mar 27, 2010, 01:04 PM

A home may appear to be abandon but chances are someone holds the title. You can look up ownership at the tax assessors office. If you are thinking of squatters rights you can forget about it, doesn't come into play for decades in many states.

rasta4we · Mar 27, 2010, 01:07 PM

How to legally take possession on abandon properties. What must I do to protect investment.

rasta4we · Mar 27, 2010, 01:11 PM

I found a house, did property search, found owners name, unable to locate through postal service, what cercumstatces can such a property be taken possession .

ballengerb1 · Mar 27, 2010, 01:13 PM

Abandon does not mean free for the taking. You must research the title to the property to see who owns it, it can not just be taken over. You could live in an abandon home of building for years, even make improvements but it will still be long to someone else. Adverse possession is the legal term so try looking up that term for your state.

ballengerb1 · Mar 27, 2010, 01:14 PM

Answer to #4, it can't. Just because you can't find them does not mean they aren't still the legal owner of record. Is that owner paying the taxes on the property?

rasta4we · Mar 27, 2010, 01:29 PM

What cercumstances can one take possession of vacated properties.
Summary of adverse possession in calf.

rasta4we · Mar 27, 2010, 01:31 PM

The bank is paying the taxs, the bank of record is no longer the bank. Unable to find present mortgage holder (bank, and personal owner)

rasta4we · Mar 27, 2010, 01:46 PM

The bank is paying the taxs, the bank of record is no longer the bank. Unable to find present mortgage holder (bank, and personal owner),mail forwarding does not work.

excon · Mar 27, 2010, 02:37 PM

Hello r:

There IS an owner. You have to find him and BUY the house from him. If you can't find him through conventional means, try something unconventional, like hiring a PI.

excon

Fr_Chuck · Mar 27, 2010, 04:01 PM

There is no way you can just "take possession" of a property

It has a owner, you have to find them.

If a bank is paying the taxes, their address is on file at the tax office,

The owners name is on file at the recorder of deed.

The only way to get it, is to find the owner and buy if from them, of if taxes stop being paid, buy it at a tax auction

ballengerb1 · Mar 27, 2010, 04:54 PM

From the CA law books "REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING LAND BY ADVERSE POSSESSION
A trespasser is entitled to legal ownership of property if his occupation of the property is hostile,
actual, open and notorious, exclusive and continuous for a period of years set by state statute.
(We explain each of these terms below.) Some states, such as California, also require the
trespasser to have paid the local property taxes on the land.(1) The time required, which varies
from state to state, is usually twenty years. It can be as short as five years when the trespasser
pays the property taxes." California adverse possession requires you to be the party paying the taxes. This can't happen because the bank is paying, so they maintain their own adverse possession. Time to move on.

Fr_Chuck · Mar 27, 2010, 06:31 PM

Yes, but would you want to try to live, and fix up a place, and pay the taxes for a long time but be short of 20 years and have them take the property back.

And that is "if" the court allows, courts don't allows go for the person asking for the adverse possession, but go with the land owner