How To Find Absentee Owners with PropStream

Disclaimer: PropStream does not provide legal advice regarding the permissibility of contacting absentee homeowners. Before reaching out to any potential leads, users are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Do Not Call (DNC) regulations and other applicable solicitation laws.

Not every property owner lives in the home they own—and for real estate professionals, that’s where the opportunity lies.

Absentee owners—whether landlords, heirs, or investors—often face unique challenges that make selling a tempting solution. This creates a prime opportunity for savvy professionals to step in and provide value.

Differences aside, these two types of owners share a common trait: They may be motivated to sell their property.

Let’s explore why absentee owners may be motivated to sell, how various real estate professionals can stand to benefit from absentee owner leads, and how to find them using PropStream.

Why an Absentee Owner May Want to Sell

The Owner is a tired landlord. Sometimes, when a landlord has owned a property for a long time, they’re ready to either sell it and find new opportunities or retire and alleviate the burden of managing properties.

They have a vacation home they no longer need or use. The owner may have purchased the property when they were in a better financial spot financially. However, life events, like a divorce, bankruptcy, losing a job, or the death of a spouse, may impact their ability to continue maintaining and/or affording two properties.

They may have inherited the property and don’t want to own it. When a family member passes away, they may leave their property to a family member or somebody else. However, if the person who inherited the property lives far from it with no intention of moving and can’t afford to pay someone to take care of it, they may need to sell.

How Various Real Estate Professionals Can Work With Absentee Owners

Wholesalers and Landlords

When it comes to finding profitable investment opportunities (either for yourself or a buyer), finding below-market deals is vital.

Off-market inventory is a "must" in your lead-gen arsenal, particularly in a market with low inventory, high interest rates, and elevated home prices.

Real Estate Agents

Many real estate agents' ultimate goal is primarily listing properties. Listing typically allows agents to perform more transactions at once, increasing their yearly revenue.

However, many homeowners hold onto the lower interest rates they secured when they bought their current properties, making finding homeowners who want to list in today's market a struggle. One strategy savvy agents have adopted is connecting with motivated sellers, as they may need to sell ASAP without the luxury of timing the market.

Other Real Estate Pros Who Can Work With Absentee Owners and Why

Even if the owner doesn’t want to sell, there can be other opportunities for real estate professionals by finding these leads:

You’re a property manager looking for new clients: If the owner is a landlord who lives far from the property, they may need help handling day-to-day operations, making your services vital.

Related: PropStream for Property Managers

You’re a contractor who can help absentee owners:

• You have your own cleaning business and can help the owner maintain the property
• You offer pest control services and notice termite damage on the home’s exterior. The owner may want someone to monitor this issue while away to avoid significant property damage.
• You offer pool cleaning services, ideal for an absentee owner with a pool at a property they Airbnb or VRBO out
• You’re an arborist and notice the property has a rotting tree dangerously close to it. 

Absentee owners are a versatile and worthwhile lead for real estate professionals of all types. Now that you know why they may be helpful for your business, let’s explore how you can find them using PropStream.

How To Use PropStream To Find Absentee Owners

Step 1: Decide on a Search Region

You can search by city, county, zip code, exact address, or APN. You can also use our draw tool to select a more precise location.

Step 2: Apply the Necessary Search Filters

Under "MLS," select "On-market: NO."

Under "Owner Information & Occupancy," choose "Owner-occupied: NO."

Bonus: Filter the Absentee Owner's distance from their property with the "Absentee Owner Location" filter. Choose "Out of State," "Out of County," or "Local."

To hone in on absentee owners, you’ll want to use these search filters:

• Under “MLS”
  • On-market: NO
• Under “Owner Information & Occupancy”
  • Owner Occupied: NO
• Bonus: Filter How Far the Owner Lives from the Property
  • Absentee Owner Location:
    • Out of State
    • Out of County
    • Local

These filters will help you identify a wide range of absentee owners, but feel free to apply our other filters to uncover additional selling motivation.

Step 3: Create a New Marketing List

Once all of your filters have been selected, click "View _ Properties."

Once your results have populated, select the properties you want to add to your marketing list. 

Select "Add to List." Note: You can save 5,000 properties to a marketing list at once.

Name your marketing list to help you easily find it when you're ready to create your marketing campaign.

Once you’ve populated your search results with the most promising leads, create a new list.

Consider giving it a more specific name to quickly identify who this list is for (e.g., absentee owners in Orange County, CA, with liens or divorced absentee owners in Los Angeles, CA).

Step 4: Start Your Marketing Campaign

PropStream makes reaching out to those absentee owners you found easier than ever. Send bulk postcards or perform a skip trace and start an email campaign!

3 Absentee Owner Personas to Help You Niche Down

So, you’ve figured out how to uncover absentee owners in your region. Want to improve your odds of finding the most motivated sellers? Apply additional search filters to find homeowners facing situations that may tempt them to sell.

Here are three sample scenarios you can find using PropStream:

Absentee Owner #1: Penny the Preprobate

Penny, the Preprobate Absentee Owner, is a homeowner who recently inherited a property from a deceased family member.

She doesn’t live in the home and may be overwhelmed by the responsibilities of managing or selling it, especially if it needs repairs or has outstanding debts. With limited experience in real estate and a desire for a hassle-free solution, Penny is an ideal candidate for investors or agents who can offer guidance, quick solutions, and a stress-free selling process. She’s motivated but may need education on her options, so a compassionate, informed approach is essential.

Absentee Owner #2: Danny and Drew the Divorcees

Danny and Drew, the Divorcees, are former spouses who jointly own several vacation homes but no longer use them due to their separation.

With their focus on moving forward, they’re motivated to sell quickly and divide assets without added stress. They may struggle with coordinating the sale, agreeing on terms, or understanding the best options for maximizing their return. A real estate professional who can offer a smooth, neutral, and efficient selling process will be highly valuable to them.

Absentee Owner #3: Liza the Struggling Landlord

Liza, the Struggling Landlord, is a property owner who has faced financial difficulties and feels overwhelmed by tenant issues, maintenance costs, and vacancies.

With burnout setting in, she’s considering selling but may hesitate due to financial concerns or uncertainty about the process. A real estate professional who can present a hassle-free exit strategy or creative solutions—like selling to an investor or structuring a cash offer—will catch her attention.

Ready to Start Niching Down and Finding Absentee Owners? PropStream It!

With PropStream, you can easily identify the best absentee owner leads, create custom lead lists, and kickstart your marketing campaign.