Skip Trace

What is Skip Trace?

Skip tracing is the process of locating contact information for a property owner, particularly when that information is not readily available through public records alone. The term originates from debt collection, where finding someone who has 'skipped town' required specialized investigation. In real estate investing, skip tracing is used to identify and contact owners of distressed, vacant, or otherwise off-market properties.

Ugly House Finder integrates skip tracing directly into its platform, allowing investors to instantly look up owner information for any property in their search results. A single click returns the owner's name, phone number(s), email address(es), and current mailing address. This eliminates the need for separate skip tracing services and allows investors to move from property identification to owner outreach in seconds.

Effective skip tracing is critical for off-market deal acquisition because distressed property owners often cannot be reached through traditional channels. They may be absentee owners living elsewhere, may have inherited the property and not updated records, or may be elderly or in financial distress. Having accurate contact information allows investors to make direct offers, often before other investors are aware of the opportunity.

Skip trace data is compiled from multiple public and proprietary databases including property records, utility connections, voter registration, DMV records, credit header data, and social media profiles. The accuracy and completeness of results vary by source and how recently the data was updated.

Example

After identifying a severely distressed property with a score of 4.8, the investor ran a skip trace through Ugly House Finder and discovered the owner lived in another state, suggesting an absentee owner situation ideal for acquisition.

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