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1Acquiring Abandoned Real Estate
2Acquiring Abandoned Personal Property
3Acquiring Abandoned Vehicles
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Written byJennifer Mueller, JD
Last Updated: October 22, 2022ReferencesApproved
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You probably are familiar with the saying "Finders, keepers; losers, weepers." Beyond a playground taunt, historically that also was a fair statement of abandoned property law: If you found abandoned property, you could claim it as your own.[1] However, the law today is a bit more complicated, as many states have enacted legislation that alters the treatment of lost or abandoned property – particularly property such as real estate or motor vehicles in which the record owner can reasonably be discovered.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Acquiring Abandoned Real Estate
1
Make sure it's actually abandoned. Just because a house is vacant or appears run-down doesn't necessarily mean it's abandoned.
- The problem with taking control of an abandoned piece of real estate is that somebody does technically own it, even if they don't live in it or take care of it.[2]
- Generally speaking, real estate can never be abandoned, because there will always be the name of an owner recorded on the deed for the property.[3] But that doesn't mean that whoever owns it still wants to own it. In many cases, the owner decided selling the property was more hassle than it was worth.
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2
Find out who owns the property. The easiest way to find out who owns the property is to check your county's property tax records.
- You can talk to neighbors or take other steps to find out who owns the property, but property tax records are the easiest way. If real estate exists, someone is paying taxes on it – or owes taxes on it – and the county tax assessor will have that person's name and contact information.
- Keep in mind it's possible that the address the tax assessor has for the owner is the same as the address of the property you believe is abandoned.
- Another way to find the property owner is to look up the deed for the property in the county recorder's office. If any liens such as mortgages are recorded on the deed, try contacting the bank or mortgage company instead of the individual listed as property owner.
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3
Contact the record owner. Once you have a name and address of the owner of the property, attempt to get in touch with them regarding the status of the property.
- This may require a little detective work on your part. For example, if the only address you can find for the owner is the street address for the property you believe to be abandoned, try sending a post card anyway. The property owner may be having his mail forwarded to a different address, so you can still reach him that way.
- If the property owner is actually a bank or mortgage company, you might have better luck tracking them down – especially if you make it clear you want to pay them money.[4]
4
Make the owner an offer. If you are able to make contact with the owner, offer to take the property off their hands.
- If the owner owes back taxes, you may be able to acquire the property simply by offering to pay the back taxes.
- However, this amount may be more substantial if the owner owed additional money on the house when he abandoned it. Make sure you conduct thorough research on the house's title to ensure you're taking title free and clear of any debts aside from those you're willing to pay.
- A bank that owns property due to a foreclosure probably wants to get back as much as it can. Decide how much you can afford to spend on the property, accounting for any repairs that might need to be made, and make an offer.[5]
5
Attempt adverse possession. If you cannot contact the owner, you can stake a claim on the property and see if you can keep it.
- If you openly "squat" on the property for a number of years – typically anywhere from five to 25 years or more – and the owner of record never tries to stop you, the title for the property might revert to you.
- In any case, this is a risky move considering the rightful owner could return at any moment and have you arrested for trespassing.[6][7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Acquiring Abandoned Personal Property
1
Make sure it's actually abandoned. Just because someone leaves something somewhere doesn't mean they've intended to rid themselves of it.
- However, if someone intentionally abandons most kinds of personal property, they lose ownership of it. This must be a deliberate act.
- In many states, a previous owner may come back and reclaim even intentionally abandoned property within a certain period of time.[8]
- In the case of intangible property such as intellectual property, generally a period of time must pass during which the registered owner does nothing to control the property or limit access to it before it's considered abandoned.
2
Determine if anyone else has a better claim to the property. Typically the owner of the building or land where the property is left has a claim to the property that beats everyone but the true owner, even if you found it.
- For example, if you find a wallet on a street, you may be entitled to keep it. If, however, you find that wallet in a coffee shop, the owner of the coffee shop may have a better claim to the wallet than you do. However, the original owner of the wallet always has the superior claim, and provided the wallet included some sort of ID, you could track down the original owner fairly easily.[9]
3
Hold the property in trust, if necessary. In some circumstances, you may be required by law to store the property for a period of time before you can claim it as your own.
- For example, if tenants leave personal property behind after an eviction, landlords typically are required to store the property for a period of time and notify the former tenants that the property is being kept. If the former tenants return to reclaim their property, the landlord can charge them reasonable storage fees.[10]
- The amount of time property must be held varies among states, but typically is less than a month. After that period passes, the landlord is free to sell the property, throw it away, or keep it for himself.
4
Take the property as your own. If the true owner never reclaims the property, you are free to take it.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Acquiring Abandoned Vehicles
1
Check state or local law regarding abandoned vehicles. All states have laws regarding abandoned vehicles, but your city or county may have a stricter or more specific ordinance.[11]
2
Make sure the vehicle is actually abandoned. Just because a car is broken down doesn't necessarily mean its owner intended never to claim it again.
- However, if a car is stripped or burned, or if it's missing significant parts, it's a pretty safe bet that it's been abandoned.[12]
3
Contact local law enforcement. In most states, if you find an abandoned vehicle you must call local law enforcement and report it – even if you find it on your own property.
- Make sure you call the police or sheriff's department's non-emergency number – not 911 – to report an abandoned vehicle.[13]
- Be prepared to give the officer who handles your call the exact location of the vehicle, as well as the make, model, and any other information you can give her about the appearance or condition of the vehicle so she can find it.[14]
- In most states an abandoned vehicle or water vessel becomes state property. For example, in Michigan, you can't claim an abandoned vehicle on your private property, but you may have the opportunity to bid on it at public auction if it remains unclaimed.[15]
- In many states, abandoning a vehicle may constitute a civil infraction[16] or even a criminal misdemeanor, depending on where the vehicle is abandoned and in what condition.
4
Contact the owner. If you have the owner's contact information and you want the car yourself, you may be able to work out something with the owner before his time to reclaim his vehicle runs out.
- In some areas, police place a warning sticker on the vehicle instructing the record owner that it will be towed and auctioned if not moved within 24 hours. If the owner moves the car, the period of time starts over.[17]
- If you find a car that already has an abandoned vehicle sticker or tag on it, you may be able to contact the owner and take the car yourself.
- Even with the owner's consent, you typically will be on the hook for title, registration, and towing fees, as well as whatever repairs are necessary to get the vehicle back in working order.
5
Bid on the vehicle at auction. If the county or state took ownership of the vehicle, it will either be scrapped or sold at auction.
- If the vehicle is sold at auction, you have the ability to bid for it there.
- Some states require a vehicle be sold for scrap if it is in significant disrepair or more than a certain number of years old. Vehicles that are sold for scrap typically can't be re-titled.[18][19]
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References
- ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/abandoned_property
- ↑ http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/not-easy-to-claim-abandoned-home-next-door.aspx
- ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/abandoned_property
- ↑ https://www.realtor.com/advice/find-buy-abandoned-properties/
- ↑ https://www.realtor.com/advice/find-buy-abandoned-properties/
- ↑ http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/not-easy-to-claim-abandoned-home-next-door.aspx
- ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/adverse_possession
- ↑ http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/abandoned-personal-property.html
- ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/lost_property
More References (10)
- ↑ http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/abandoned-personal-property.html
- ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/dealing-with-abandoned-vehicles-your-neighborhood.html
- ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/dealing-with-abandoned-vehicles-your-neighborhood.html
- ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/dealing-with-abandoned-vehicles-your-neighborhood.html
- ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/dealing-with-abandoned-vehicles-your-neighborhood.html
- ↑ http://www.mi.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-48268-130794--F,00.html
- ↑ http://www.mi.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-47331_71082---F,00.html
- ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/dealing-with-abandoned-vehicles-your-neighborhood.html
- ↑ http://www.cga.ct.gov/2004/rpt/2004-R-0879.htm
- ↑ http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-55/chapter-16
About This Article

This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 400,050 times.
123 votes - 87%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: October 22, 2022
Views:400,050
Categories: Property Law
Article SummaryX
To acquire abandoned property, first find out who owns the property by checking your county's property tax records. Then, reach out to the owner of the property and make them an offer. Just make sure you thoroughly research the title of the property to find out how much money is owed on it. For example, you'll want to check that the title is free of any debts aside from those that you're willing to pay for. Finally, wait to see if the owner accepts your offer. To learn how to acquire abandoned personal property, scroll down!
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FAQs
Can you loot an abandoned house? ›
Taking stuff from abandoned houses without permission is illegal. Even though the house may be abandoned, it still belongs to somebody, including any contents inside. So taking anything would be considered theft. Also, damaging the property by any means is also illegal.
Is Buying Abandoned property worth it? ›The major draw to an abandoned home is buying the home well below market value. Whether you're buying the property to flip or to live in, you'll likely be able to save a substantial amount of money buying an abandoned home compared to a standard home on the market.
How do I claim abandoned property in Texas? ›Unclaimed Personal Property
Once the personal property is considered abandoned under the law, it must be reported to the Texas Comptroller. Texans can search for unclaimed property in their name through the Texas Comptroller's website and submit a claim.
Check with Local Authorities
Make an appointment with the county clerk. You might be able to identify abandoned homes by going to the county clerk's office because the government keeps property ownership data. Inquire with banks to see if they have an inventory of houses under foreclosure.
- Newspapers. Check your (local) newspaper and search for abandoned places. ...
- Google Search. Just type in “abandoned places” and search. ...
- Google Maps/Earth. Just travel the digital world and look for old factory near train tracks or rivers. ...
- Urbex map or database. ...
- Go out!
Legally speaking, no it is not legal to camp overnight at an abandoned building, whether inside or outside.
What happens to abandoned houses in USA? ›Local governments will seize properties that have been vacated and left unoccupied for a long time and tend to attract undesirable attention. There are two terms when it comes to abandoned properties: Distressed property, this is a home in a bad condition due to financial problems, or just plain neglect.
How to buy abandoned house? ›- Take A Planned Approach To Your Property Search.
- Choose An Area You'd Like To Buy A Derelict Property.
- Have A Drive Around To Find Derelict Properties With Potential.
- Set Yourself A Buying & Renovating Budget & Don't Go Over It.
A house flipper can expect to pay around $20,000 for a full renovation of a home in good condition. But a home that's battered and beaten, either due to neglect, vacancy, or disaster, is likely to require a higher flipping budget. Investors can expect to put in up to $100,000 on restoring a home in poor condition.
Why are homes abandoned with everything left behind? ›A house that is abandoned usually is one that has been left unoccupied and vacant due to foreclosure, bankruptcy, or other financial or legal reasons. Local governments are usually not collecting property taxes anymore from the original owner.
What proof do you need for adverse possession? ›
Adverse possession requires factual possession of the land, with the necessary intention to possess and without the owner's consent.
Does paying property tax give ownership in Texas? ›Does Paying Property Tax Give Ownership In Texas? No. Simply paying property taxes for a piece of real estate is not enough to establish ownership under Texas law. Rather, the property belongs to whoever has “clear title,” regardless of who pays the taxes.
How to get a free home? ›There are two main ways to get a house for free. One is to get a mortgage on a rental property, and have your tenants pay off the mortgage. The second is by squatting.
How do I claim abandoned property in California? ›You can visit www.claimit.ca.gov to see if the state has any unclaimed property belonging to you, and also to submit claims for long-lost money or valuables. You can also call 800-992-4647 for assistance Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., except for state holidays.
Can you claim abandoned property in Florida? ›Florida Unclaimed Property
Until claimed, unclaimed money is deposited into the state school fund, where it is used for public education. There is, however, no statute of limitations, and citizens have the right to claim their property any time at no cost.
Going inside abandoned properties and buildings can be dangerous. Here are 5 reasons to stay out of old abandoned properties and buildings: Trespassing is against the law—you can even get arrested. Many old factory buildings still have dangerous chemicals inside them.
What happens if you go into an abandoned building? ›Entering an 'abandoned' building is usually still unlawful, because the land is almost invariably still owned by someone. Entering a building which is owned by someone is trespass, and is usually a civil offence.
Is there an app for abandoned houses? ›Abandoned World *officially* allows you to discover the exact location of Urbex spots. Easy to use and functional! Exploration is guaranteed!
What is it called when someone lives in an abandoned house? ›Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there were one billion slum residents and squatters globally.
Why do abandoned houses get boarded up? ›This is usually done in order to protect a vacant or abandoned property from squatters and looters. In some cases, boarding up a house can also be used to protect an occupied home from storm damage.
How do you squat in an abandoned house? ›
The California law allows a squatter to claim possession of a house after establishing his or her residency — by having mail and bills sent to the house, openly coming and going through the front door and paying the property taxes — for at least five years, said attorney Dan Siegel.
How do people get into abandoned buildings? ›Windows, unlocked doors, doors that can be opened by force (note laws), rooftops, tunnels, and holes are all possible entry points into abandoned buildings.
What is it called to explore abandoned places? ›Urban exploration (often shortened as UE, urbex and sometimes known as roof and tunnel hacking) is the exploration of manmade structures, usually abandoned ruins or hidden components of the manmade environment.
Why do I like abandoned places so much? ›Each one is different: They love to see the unexpected in places that have long been devoid of human occupation. From trees growing out of bookshelves to old newspapers from the 1930s, you can never quite predict what you'll find. Pure curiosity: Many people who love to visit these places do so out of sheer curiosity.
What state has the most abandoned houses? ›The study by LendingTree ranked the nation's 50 states by their shares of unoccupied homes. The highest vacancy rates were found in Vermont, Maine and Alaska. Each state has between 20% and 22% of its housing stock vacant. The three states combined are home to more than 315,000 unoccupied units.
What is abandoned property law? ›abandonment, in Anglo-American property law, the relinquishment of possession of property with an intent to terminate all ownership interests in that property.
What are abandoned houses called? ›Bona vacantia, also known as vacant goods, refers to property without a clear owner. Bona vacantia assets may be abandoned or unclaimed by its owner. A dormant account is an account wherein there has been no financial activity for a long period of time, other than the posting of interest.
How can I buy abandoned property in India? ›- The possession of the property should be uninterrupted for 12 years.
- The possessor must occupy the property entirely through actual possession.
- The possessor should be the sole owner of the property for 12 years and he must be able to prove it.
After three years, huge part of the roof would start to collapse. Plants would start to grow inside the house breaking apart cement floor. After 4 years, the walls would become severely rotted and wall ceiling and walls would start to fall. After 5 years, the house is completely unrecognizable.
Why are there so many abandoned houses in Baltimore? ›Since 1950, Baltimore City has lost over 350,000 residents as the population of surrounding counties has grown. The city declined from being 40% of the State's population to 10%. This decrease in effective demand for housing resulted in disinvestment, abandonment, and a dramatic increase in vacant housing units.
What is the 70% rule in house flipping? ›
The 70% rule can help flippers when they're scouring real estate listings for potential investment opportunities. Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home.
How to become a house flipper with no money? ›- Private Lenders.
- Hard Money Lenders.
- Wholesaling.
- Partner With House Flipping Investors.
- Home Equity.
- Option To Buy.
- Seller Financing.
- Crowdfunding.
Water contamination, air pollution, or other plagues can cause people to leave their homes and commercial property and abandon their properties for good.
Why do empty homes matter? ›Empty homes can have a detrimental effect on people's wellbeing and sense of place as they send out negative messages about a neighbourhood and can become the focus of anti-social behaviour.
How do I claim abandoned land? ›When someone wants to claim ownership of land that's not theirs, it is called Adverse Possession. To claim Adverse Possession you would need to make an application to the Land Registry. The Land Registry have a strict set of criteria you must meet before you can claim land you do not own.
How do you claim land that is not yours? ›Adverse possession is the process of acquiring land that doesn't necessarily belong to you. If you have been in possession of land for a certain length of time, you maybe entitled to make an application to the Land Registry to secure rightful ownership of it.
What is the 7 year boundary rule? ›The Seven Year Rule
So this is different from the so called 'Seven year rule' which comes from Section 157(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This means local authorities can't serve enforcement notices for an unauthorised development when seven years have passed since the commencement of the development.
Trespassers can take ownership of abandoned property in Texas by accident or design. The prevailing norm in the Lone Star State is that any land claim must be documented in writing. If you want to prove that you are the legal property owner, you need a deed or conveyance.
How do I become a squatter in Texas? ›Who is Considered a Squatter? According to Texas laws, a squatter is somebody who is living on a land or in a building that is either unoccupied, abandoned, or foreclosed without the legal consent of the actual property owner.
How do I buy a struck off property in Texas? ›When the property is bid, or struck-off to the entity, the deed will be made out to the taxing entities, and filed with the County Clerk's office. These properties may be sold through a private bidding process if all taxing entities with a claim on them agree and approve offers from prospective buyers.
Can I take ownership of an abandoned vehicle on my property in PA? ›
If the property owner would like to obtain a vehicle title for the abandoned vehicle on their private property, they may file a suit in common pleas court requesting that an order be entered that awards ownership of the vehicle to the landowner.
How do I get ownership of an abandoned vehicle in Texas? ›After Purchasing the Vehicle
The person who purchases an abandoned vehicle takes title free of ownership by another person or lien holder. They will receive a receipt for their purchase from law enforcement and have the right to register the vehicle in their name and receive a new certificate of title.
You can have the abandoned vehicle towed away, but transference of ownership would have to be done by the owner. Seeing as the owner abandoned the thing, it won't happen through those means. Technically you can take the owner to small claims court.
Is there an app to find abandoned places? ›Try abandoned places near me. Abandoned World *officially* allows you to discover the exact location of Urbex spots. Easy to use and functional! Exploration is guaranteed!
How do I find abandoned cities? ›...
Here's a list of great websites on how to find abandoned places, wherever you might be.
- Abandoned Places. ...
- Abandoned America. ...
- Urbex Playground. ...
- Freaktography. ...
- Abandoned Central.
Urban exploration (often shortened as UE, urbex and sometimes known as roof and tunnel hacking) is the exploration of manmade structures, usually abandoned ruins or hidden components of the manmade environment.
Why are we attracted to abandoned places? ›Each one is different: They love to see the unexpected in places that have long been devoid of human occupation. From trees growing out of bookshelves to old newspapers from the 1930s, you can never quite predict what you'll find. Pure curiosity: Many people who love to visit these places do so out of sheer curiosity.
Why are there Ghosttowns? ›Factors leading to the abandonment of towns include depleted natural resources, economic activity shifting elsewhere, railroads and roads bypassing or no longer accessing the town, human intervention, disasters, massacres, wars, and the shifting of politics or fall of empires.
What is the most abandoned place on earth? ›- ZKP Tagansky, Moscow, Russia.
- Presidio Modelo, Cuba.
- Maunsell Forts, Kent, England.
- Cherokee Nuclear Plant, South Carolina, USA.
- Pripyat, Ukraine.
- Battleship Island, Japan.
- Beelitz Military Hospital, Berlin.
- The last of our abandoned places: Balaklava, Ukraine.
Well, now you can — and all for free. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is looking for volunteers to help manage Garnet Ghost Town, a Montana mining town more that's more than 100 years old, and has been mostly abandoned for nearly that long.
What is America's largest abandoned city? ›
From the top of the hill, we got a little bit of a better sense for the vastness of California City. The roads seemed to never end. It wasn't until later that we researched the fascinating history of how this became America's largest abandoned city.
Do ghost cities still exist? ›China's property boom
But not all ghost cities stay ghost cities. Ghost Cities of China author Wade Shepard — who has been documenting the existence of ghost cities since he first stumbled across a sprawling vacant metropolis in 2006 — sees these cities as simply in a phase between construction and inhabitability.
Squatting is when someone is occupying an empty or abandoned property which they don't own or rent, and without the owner's permission. This is often without the owner's knowledge and without any legal right to do so.
What is it called when people stay in abandoned houses? ›Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there were one billion slum residents and squatters globally.
Are you allowed in abandoned buildings? ›Entering an 'abandoned' building is usually still unlawful, because the land is almost invariably still owned by someone. Entering a building which is owned by someone is trespass, and is usually a civil offence.
What phobia is fear of abandoned places? ›Kenophobia is an intense fear of empty spaces or voids.
Why do things get abandoned? ›It is often flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other natural disasters that force families and businesses to evacuate the area in which they live and make a living. And in some cases, when the individuals leave for safety reasons and they never return.
Why are ruins so beautiful? ›“Ruins are attractive because they're not just things that have survived, but they also point towards something.” Marchand agrees. “To us, the ruin allows you to see the past, as well as your present condition, and what you're going to be – you can see all those three at the same time.”