How to Find Probate Properties for Investment

June 12, 2020

Are you looking to invest in probate property? Maybe you read one of our latest articles on probate property and why it’s a great investment opportunity. Or perhaps you’ve known you wanted to invest in real estate and decided that probate was the best option for you.

Whatever brought you to the world of probate property investment, you have to find these properties before you can invest in them.

So that begs the question: how do you find these properties in the first place?

We’re going to give you four options on how to find probate properties to help you get that much closer to your real estate dreams.

Town Hall or Probate Court List

Recently filed probate cases are often compiled into a list by the court clerk or at the local town hall. Calling or asking for the list of recent probate properties or cases can give you some great leads for potential properties.

The list you receive is going to be the most organized and accurate that you can find likely anywhere. However, of all the options on this list, this one is the most time consuming and requires a lot of manual work on your part.

Once you get the list, you’re going to need to do more research. The list isn’t organized by active cases or by property type or price, so you’re going to need to go through each property on the list.

You’ll need to determine which ones are still available & active, and sort through which aren’t in the area or price range that you’re looking for. Look for information on whether they’re looking for cash home buyers, a fast home sale, or another particular qualification you may need to purchase.

Also, keep in mind that not all probate cases include a property. You’ll need to go through each case to see whether real estate or properties are listed in the probate inventory. Once you know these details, you can then go ahead and reach out to the point of contact or the executor.

Like we said earlier, this is pretty time consuming. However, it’s free to do and can give you excellent options that might not appear in the other options on this list.

Print or Online Newspapers

Newspapers often post legal notices along with obituaries, estate sales, and even probate sales in their classified or advertisement sections.

Legal notices to take note of include:

Notice to creditors
Notice to administrators
Notice to debtors and creditors
Notice to interested persons
Notice to administer estate of

As we said earlier, obituaries can also be a way to see what potential probate properties in certain areas.

Probate sale advertisements can also be found in both print and online newspapers. Many of these ads are quite detailed and list key information about the property, which can be very helpful for potential buyers & investors.

Purchase List from Lead Providers

Those first two options on how to find probate properties are free (not always with newspapers), except for the time that you have to spend looking for the information.

If you have some money to spare, though, it could be worth it to purchase a list of leads from lead providers. This can take away a lot of time consuming activities you would have to do compiling a list on your own.

Growing Edge Properties has experience working with these types of providers, and we can recommend the following websites:

And, depending on the lead provider you choose, you’re better guaranteed a high-quality and actionable list to go off of (instead of having to take the time and effort to curate it yourself, as we explained earlier).

Networking and Connections

Image if you could hear about a probate property before anyone else. Before it ends up in the newspapers or even in court, you could know about it.

How? Through the right connections.

Having a connection with local real estate agents or lawyers like probate or estate attorneys is a great way to get the best scoop on the latest available probate properties.

If you can build up your network of connections, you could be the first to hear about any new property in your area or your niche.

This method on how to find probate properties will take the longest and takes the most dedication. However, once you find those key partners or connections, they’ll serve you throughout your real estate investment timeline.

Need Some More Help?

Whether this is your first foray into looking to buy or sell a home for cash, Growing Edge Properties is your go-to resource for real estate information.

We’ll help you understand the market you’re entering, connect you with key resources, and act as an expert you can turn to for help.

How to Find Probate Properties for Investment