Thread: Question About "Occupancy Prohibited"

My girlfriend bought a house mid last year, since we have been here a house across the st has had an "Occupancy Prohibited" sign on the house and we have yet to see anyone go in or out of the house. From the outside it looks like it's in decent condition.

The area where we are has a high volume of renter and I would be interested in trying to acquire the property for investment.

How would I go about obtaining the necessary info on this house since it's not listed for sale. I would like to be able to see why Occupancy is Prohibited and possibly who owns it in order to make an offer and such.

Any thoughts?

mold damage, structural damage are two things that come to mind

Originally Posted by mrmikey32

mold damage, structural damage are two things that come to mind

yea those come to mind but at the same time, it's a row home, so why wouldn't the adjoining homes be in a similar situation? the house is also on a negative sloped hill so water really should accumulate...not saying that it wouldn't but it would be less likely.

My thought is that it had horrid living conditions or there was an issue w/ water or electric.

Upon closer inspection the sign is dated from 06!!! I just can't believe it's sat for so long on the street.

Meth lab?

Originally Posted by mcdbrendan

Meth lab?

You might be joking, but it is very possible that there is a chemical contamination in there that no one is willing to pay to clean up.

Pull a property profile on the property or title report and find out who owns it... but, contamination, mold, etc are usually the case. There have been some cases where it was a house tied into a murder case, or police case that has not been closed so it is still "evidence" but usually if that is the case it will have a police notice.

The city codes department should be able to tell you the problem. Be careful. Remediation can cost big bucks for the unwary.

Ive been pretty busy dealing with these houses. they get destroyed... then you get the fuckers who think its ok to steal all the copper too

Without doing proper research I just am reiterating what others have said.

Mold and structural damage come to mind, then other factors such as meth labs and/or crime scenes. However I'd assume with crime scenes their'd be some sort of police activity.

As UV mentioned, pull a property profile. You can contact your local title & escrow office and they will be able to assist.

Also, you mentioned it wasn't listed. I would still contact a Realtor who can give you its listing history and/or if its a "pocket listing" aka discrete and published nowhere.

If nothing has been recorded with the county then you will not see anything on the property profile or with the building department.

It is public record for who the owner is, you may be able to find him and call him directly.

Also, if you'd like, you can pm me the address and I'll see what I can find.

Go get em Waldo!