Skip Tracing
Skip tracing is the process of locating a property owner's current contact details — phone number, email, and mailing address — by cross-referencing public records and proprietary data.
What skip tracing means in real estate
In real estate, skip tracing turns a name on a deed into a way to reach the actual decision-maker. Investors, wholesalers, and developers use it to contact owners of off-market properties — parcels that are not listed for sale. The challenge is that title is often held by an LLC, trust, or corporate entity rather than a person, so a basic name lookup returns a registered agent instead of the human who can sell.
How skip tracing works
A skip-tracing engine matches a property's ownership record against secretary-of-state business filings, voter and utility data, and other public sources to resolve the managing member or beneficial owner, then appends current phone numbers and email addresses. Quality varies widely: hit rates, recency, and whether the tool can pierce LLCs and trusts are the differences that matter.
Skip tracing in Paxiv
Paxiv includes LLC-aware skip tracing on every parcel nationwide: one click returns the decision-maker's phone, email, loan details, and related properties — not just a registered agent. Because it is built into the same platform as parcel search and validated zoning, finding a parcel and reaching its owner is one workflow instead of two subscriptions. The core platform is free.
Frequently asked questions
What is skip tracing in real estate?
Skip tracing is the process of finding a property owner's current contact information — phone number, email, and mailing address — by cross-referencing public records and proprietary data. Real estate investors and developers use it to reach owners of off-market properties directly.
How do I skip trace a property owner?
Start from the property's ownership record and use a skip-tracing tool that resolves the person behind any LLC or trust, then appends current phone and email. In Paxiv, skip tracing is built into every parcel — one click returns the decision-maker's contact details, included on the free core platform.
Is skip tracing legal?
Yes. Skip tracing uses public records and lawfully sourced data to locate contact information. How you then use that information is governed by rules such as the TCPA and Do-Not-Call regulations, so outreach should follow those laws.