Skip Tracing for Real Estate: How to Find Property Owners’ Contact Info

Posted on: 28 Nov, 2020

In real estate investing and brokerage, one of the most valuable advantages is the ability to contact property owners directly. Many profitable opportunities never appear on public listing platforms, which is why investors and brokers rely on skip tracing to find accurate owner contact information.

Skip tracing helps real estate professionals locate phone numbers, email addresses, and ownership information for property owners in both commercial real estate (CRE) and residential markets.

In this guide, we explain how skip tracing works, why it is important, and which tools professionals use to find accurate property owner data.

What Is Skip Tracing in Real Estate?

Skip tracing is the process of locating a person's contact information when it is not easily available.

In real estate, skip tracing is commonly used to identify and verify:

• Property owner phone numbers

• Email addresses

• Mailing addresses

• Ownership information

• Decision-makers behind LLCs

By using skip tracing, investors and brokers can reach property owners directly and discuss potential sales, partnerships, or investment opportunities.

Why Skip Tracing Is Important for CRE & Residential Real Estate

Many real estate opportunities are off-market deals, meaning they are not publicly listed for sale.

Skip tracing allows investors and brokers to:

Contact Property Owners Directly

Instead of waiting for listings, professionals can reach out to owners and explore potential deals.

Find Off-Market Opportunities

Many property owners may consider selling if approached directly.

Identify Decision Makers

Many properties are owned by LLCs or corporate entities, and skip tracing helps identify the actual owner behind the company.

Improve Marketing Campaigns

Accurate contact data allows investors to launch targeted outreach campaigns through:

• Cold calling

• Email outreach

• Direct mail campaigns

This strategy is widely used in both commercial real estate acquisitions and residential investment markets.

Common Use Cases for Skip Tracing

Skip tracing is used across many real estate strategies.

Commercial Real Estate (CRE)

CRE brokers and investors use skip tracing to locate owners of:

• Office buildings

• Multifamily properties

• Industrial properties

• Retail centers

• Self storage facilities

Residential Real Estate

Residential investors often use skip tracing to find owners of:

• Rental properties

• Absentee-owned homes

• Distressed properties

• Vacant homes

By locating accurate contact information, investors can start conversations directly with property owners.

Best Skip Tracing Tools Used by Real Estate Professionals

Professional investors and brokers often rely on premium data platforms to obtain accurate contact information.

Here are some of the most widely used skip tracing tools.

TLOxp

TLOxp is considered one of the most powerful skip tracing platforms available.

It is widely used by:

• Financial institutions

• Investigators

• Real estate professionals

TLOxp provides access to extensive data sources, including:

• Phone numbers

• Address history

• Business ownership records

• Asset information

Because of its powerful database, it is often considered a premium skip tracing tool for professional research.

LexisNexis

LexisNexis is another well-known data platform used for identity verification and contact research.

Real estate professionals use LexisNexis to access:

• Public records

• Property ownership data

• Phone numbers

• Address history

It is commonly used in industries such as legal research, investigations, and real estate data verification.

ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is primarily used for business and professional contact data.

It is especially useful for finding:

• Business executives

• Company decision-makers

• Corporate contact information

• Professional email addresses

CRE brokers often use ZoomInfo to contact corporate property owners or real estate executives.

ContactOut

ContactOut is a powerful tool for finding professional email addresses and business contacts, particularly from LinkedIn profiles.

It helps users identify:

• Business emails

• Professional contact information

• Executive profiles

This tool is commonly used for business outreach and networking.

Skip Genie

Skip Genie is a skip tracing platform designed specifically for real estate investors and wholesalers.

It allows users to quickly search for:

• Property owner phone numbers

• Email addresses

• Contact information for property owners

Many residential investors use Skip Genie to support cold calling and marketing campaigns.

BeenVerified

BeenVerified is a widely used public record search tool that helps locate:

• Phone numbers

• Address history

• Email addresses

• Social profiles

While it is less advanced than enterprise-level tools, it can still be helpful for basic contact research.

Choosing the Right Skip Tracing Tool

Different tools serve different purposes depending on the type of research being conducted.

For example:

• TLOxp and LexisNexis are considered premium platforms for deep research.

• ZoomInfo and ContactOut are ideal for business and executive contacts.

• Skip Genie and BeenVerified are often used for residential property owner searches.

Many professionals combine multiple tools to achieve the best results and highest accuracy.

How DirectOwner Leads Supports Skip Tracing for Real Estate

DirectOwner Leads specializes in skip tracing and property owner research for both commercial and residential real estate.

Our services help investors and brokers obtain:

• Verified property owner phone numbers

• Business and personal email addresses

• Ownership verification

• Targeted property owner prospect lists

• CRM-ready contact data

By combining advanced research methods with premium data tools, DirectOwner Leads delivers accurate and actionable contact information for real estate professionals.

Final Thoughts

Skip tracing has become an essential strategy for real estate investors and brokers who want to find opportunities before they reach the public market.

By identifying property owners and obtaining verified contact information, professionals can launch targeted outreach campaigns and build relationships with potential sellers.

With the right research tools and data sources, skip tracing provides a powerful advantage in both commercial and residential real estate markets.