What does occupancy status actually indicate for a property?

Occupancy status indicates whether the property owner likely lives at the property (owner-occupied) or primarily lives elsewhere (non-owner-occupied, also called absentee). This classification is determined by comparing the property address to the owner's mailing address on file with the county assessor, and or primary residence tax exemptions. If the addresses match, the property is flagged as owner-occupied. If they differ, it is flagged as absentee.

Occupancy status is one of the most commonly used filters in real estate prospecting because it signals different owner motivations. Absentee owners are more likely to be landlords or investors, and they may be more willing to sell because the property is not their primary residence. Further filtering can separate local absentee owners (same county, different address) from out-of-state owners, who may have even less attachment to the property. Vacancy data adds another layer, using United States Postal Service (USPS) data to identify addresses where mail is not being collected. PropertyRadar tracks vacant property addresses and vacant owner mailing addresses separately, because a vacant property with an active owner mailing address represents a different situation than one where both addresses show no mail activity.