Probate filings name the deceased and the representative. Matching them to real estate means hours in county records.
Free list · Probate and estate properties
Probate list: estate properties and who's handling them.
Spur finds properties held by an estate in your area, identifies the personal representative, and adds their phone, email, and mailing address. You see the equity and condition signals before you reach out.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
See what’s in the list ↓Mecklenburg County, NC146 estate-owned homes
Live searchEstate ownerSingle-familyEquity 60%+
- Estate of Ruth M.614 Sharon Amity RdRep in Ohio
- Estate of Walter P.2902 Kenmore AveRep local
- Estate of Doris L.1401 Dilworth RdRep in Texas
Phone + email found for 3 of 3Export CSV
12 new filings added since last week
Free to pull · Owner contact in 1 click
Personal repthe person with authority to sell
Equity + ageon every estate-owned property
Weeklynew matches from saved searches
The problem
Probate data is public, but hard to use.
Mail addressed to the deceased owner at the property often goes unread. You need the executor's address.
Clerk-office lists are sold to dozens of buyers. Being first and being respectful is what sets you apart.
What's in the list
What's on a probate list in Spur.
Each record ties an estate-owned property to the person who can make decisions about it, with the details you need to approach the family carefully.
146estate-owned homes in one county
91with 60%+ estimated equity
38where the representative lives out of state
Fields on every record
- Property address
- The real estate held by the estate.
- Estate name
- As recorded, for example "Estate of R. Miller".
- Personal representative
- The executor or administrator, when available.
- Representative contact
- Mailing address, phone, and email through enrichment.
- Estimated equity
- Most estate homes are paid off or close to it.
- Years owned
- Long ownership often means deferred maintenance.
- Year built and size
- So you can estimate repairs before you call.
- Occupancy
- Whether the home appears vacant.
Example counts from one county. Probate volume depends on population and how quickly records are indexed.
Sample list
A sample probate list
Estate-owned single-family homes with 60%+ equity, newest first. Names are masked out of respect.
Mecklenburg Co.Estate ownerSingle-familyEquity 60%+
| Estate | Property | Representative | Equity | Owned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estate of Ruth M. | 614 Sharon Amity Rd | Daniel M. · Columbus, OH | 100% | 38 yrs |
| Estate of Walter P. | 2902 Kenmore Ave | Carol P. · Charlotte, NC | 92% | 31 yrs |
| Estate of Doris L. | 1401 Dilworth Rd | James L. · Austin, TX | 100% | 44 yrs |
| Estate of Henry B. | 507 Wingate St | Angela B. · Matthews, NC | 78% | 26 yrs |
| Estate of Frances T. | 3318 Rosecrest Dr | Mark T. · Denver, CO | 100% | 41 yrs |
| Estate of George A. | 1120 Pinecrest Ave | Lisa A. · Charlotte, NC | 66% | 22 yrs |
Sample data for illustration. Names are partly masked; your results depend on your market and filters.
How it works
From zip code to mailbox in one workflow.
Five careful steps from probate record to a conversation with the family.
app.usespur.com
How to work this list
How to work a probate list with care.
Estate families are grieving and busy. These plays show how to help without adding pressure.
- 1Send a respectful first letter
Lead with condolences and a simple offer to help. Never push for a fast answer.
Probate leads direct mail play → - 2Reach heirs after the estate closes
Some homes pass to heirs who never planned to own them. They're a second, quieter window.
Inherited property play → - 3Partner with the professionals
Estate attorneys and estate sale companies meet executors first and often refer buyers and agents.
Spur for estate sale companies →
Guide
What a probate list is, and how to use one responsibly
Probate is the court process that settles a person's estate after they die: confirming the will (or applying state law if there isn't one), paying debts, and distributing what's left. When the estate includes a house, the court appoints a personal representative, called an executor when named in a will and an administrator when not, who has authority to manage and usually sell it.
A probate list connects those court filings to real estate. Each record is a property owned by an estate, plus the representative who will decide what happens to it. That second part is what makes the list useful. Mail addressed to the deceased owner at an empty house goes nowhere; mail to the executor reaches the person making decisions.
Probate properties are attractive leads because the family often wants a simple outcome. Many estate homes are owned free and clear after decades of ownership, need updating, and are being handled by a relative who lives in another city. Probate typically takes six to eighteen months, and in many states the representative can sell during the process, sometimes with court approval. That gives you time to be helpful instead of fast.
Timing and tone matter more than volume. A good first letter arrives a few weeks after the filing, offers condolences, and presents selling as one option among several. Follow up gently over two to three months. Families remember the buyer or agent who was patient and clear.
Probate filings are indexed at different speeds in different counties, so check how current your county's records are and save your search so new estates are added as they appear.
When you build the list, separate estates where the representative lives far away from those where a local relative is handling things. A distant executor has to travel for every showing, repair, and clean-out, and often welcomes a buyer or agent who can take those tasks off their plate. Note the property's condition and occupancy, too, since a vacant estate home carries insurance and maintenance risks the family may not have considered.
Compliance note. Probate outreach is legal in most states, but some limit contact with estates or heirs in specific ways. Avoid words like "distressed" in anything the family sees, follow fair housing rules, and scrub phone numbers against the Do Not Call registry before calling. Read the compliance checklist →
34×return on a year of Spur Team from one $20,000 probate deal
One estate purchase covers years of probate lists.
- Spur Team: $588/yr billed annually
- Mail 150 estates × 4 touches = 600 letters at $1.09 = $654
- One $20,000 deal = 34× your subscription
Example math. Deal size and response rates vary by market. Run your own numbers →
List + outreach in one
Spur vs. buying a probate list
What you needBuying a listSpur
Estate filings matched to propertyManual county and court research✓ Built in
Personal representative contactSeparate skip trace per record✓ Built in
Equity and property detailsLook up each address yourself✓ Built in
New filings as they're indexedMonthly list subscription✓ Built in
Respectful letters and mailingGeneric template from a print shop✓ Built in
FAQ
Probate List questions
Where do probate lists come from?
From public probate court filings and county property records. Spur matches estate filings to the properties the estate owns and adds the representative's contact information.
Is it ethical to market to probate properties?
Yes, when done respectfully. Many families want a simple way to sell a house they can't maintain. Wait a few weeks after the filing, lead with condolences, and never pressure.
Who should I contact on a probate list?
The personal representative, the executor or administrator appointed by the court. They have authority over the property, not the heirs individually.
Can a house be sold during probate?
Usually, yes. In many states the representative can sell during probate, sometimes with court approval or notice to heirs. Rules vary by state, so the family's attorney will guide the process.
How fresh is the probate data?
It depends on how quickly your county indexes filings. Save your search in Spur and new estates are added as records appear.
Keep exploring
Related lists, plays, and guides
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