The first property happened much by surprise out of a botched property purchase when the sellers were unable to complete the sale and deliver a “clear title” due to a then unknown and later unresponsive owner while a pending property tax lawsuit filed by the county threatened loss of the property. The process of locating the dissociated owner, discharging the tax lawsuit, and working through the curative title work to bring the property to good standing was a learning experience to say the least. This was a pet project of sorts that required two years of work, a private investigator’s help, multiple attorneys, and even a new lawsuit to complete. While sharing this experience with the local real estate community, it became clear that thousands of properties shared similar fact patterns.
Many executors and administrators, as well as attorneys and others interested in the administration of estates, find they lack the time or expertise to handle the most complicated searches. One of the most significant problems is locating disconnected family members or heirs of such estates. Through our international network of private investigators coupled with inhouse resources, we have been able to globally locate the identities of missing heirs with high success rates.
ARP found that it became easier and more efficient to purchase the properties, or even partial interest in the properties, from the known and friendly owners without the title insurance to resolve the problems as an owner, thereby, relieving the property owners of the burden and effectively taking their place.
Reasons a property cannot sell traditionally but are acceptable to ARP include the following: