I am really interested in purchasing a property that looks abandoned. What would be the best way to find out who the owner is? I have done a thorough google search of the address with no luck. Is there a website such as "Spokeo" (in the US) for this kind of thing? Or a govt. office? Many thanks!

The land registry - Grundbuchamt

https://www.notariate.zh.ch/deu/grundbuch


Available online (here for Zürich)

Very Helpful, Thanks. Which part would give me the owners name? Can I find this out online?

You need to order it.
I suggest you give them a call.

Did you follow the links? Some leg work from your side is expected. If you did you would ended up here https://www.notariate.zh.ch/deu/grun...ins-grundbuch/

The thing you have to know is the Grundstück No. of the land parcel or the GVZ-No. of the house. This can be easily found here https://maps.zh.ch/

I am a talker- and yes it helps to sound local. I would casually chat to neighbours. Shame to Cafés are closed now- as they can be a really good source of local info. Because you need to find out the reasons it is abandonned, not just who the legal owner is.

Good chance its abandoned for a reason. If i recall correctly 'historical' buildings may only be torn down after being abandoned for so and so long... meaning the owner might be a project developer that is waiting for this term to run out, so he can replace it with a fancy new house or apartement block.

When I see property for sale by agents that I know are very difficult to deal with I first check local Swiss directories (tel.search.ch, local.ch and co), then use google for entire address.

If this gives no results, the more advanced way is to find out closest neighbor who is in the book and write / call him. It works more often then not. I got a few contacts this way.

About half of sellers will send you to their agent and half will talk to you.

The cantonal registers vary - some allow only a few searches a day, and others have no limits.

Do you know how long a historical property needs to be 'abandoned' before you can demolish?

as everything, depends on the C/Kanton, and Commune/Gemeinde. But also if it is a protected building for any reason. The hamlet where I live is protected.