Green Estate Adds Pre-Winter Inspection and Winterization Package for Vacant U.S. Investment Properties

ATTOM’s Q3 2026 report found 879,532 of 24.9 million institutional investor-owned U.S. residential properties vacant (3.5%, vs. 1.3% overall). Green Estate offers 2026–27 pre-winter inspections and winterization for asset managers and investors.

The Market

Among institutional investor-owned properties, Indiana had the highest vacancy rate at 7 percent, followed by Illinois at 6.2 percent, Oklahoma at 6 percent, and Kansas and Alabama at 5.9 percent each, ATTOM reported. The national vacancy rate across all residential properties remained at 1.3 percent, unchanged from the previous quarter.

Separately, of the 259,666 properties in the foreclosure process during the third quarter, 8,482, or 3.3 percent, had been abandoned by their owners before foreclosure was completed. This was down from 3.4 percent in both the previous quarter and the third quarter of 2025.

Lollipop chart showing the five states with the highest vacancy rates: Indiana (7.0%), Illinois (6.2%), Oklahoma (6.0%), Kansas (5.9%) and Alabama (5.9%). For comparison, the national vacancy rate for institutional investor-owned properties was 3.5%, compared with 1.3% across all U.S. residential properties.

What the Package Includes

The package is performed on a per-property basis within a service window agreed upon with the client. Every visit is documented.

• Inspection: Occupancy status and interior and exterior conditions are checked, with visible damage and potential risks documented.
• Winterization: Plumbing is drained and protected as appropriate for the property. The water supply and water heater are shut off as specified in the approved work order, while heating and other utilities are configured according to the client’s written instructions.
• Securing: Locks are changed and openings are boarded where necessary.
• Debris removal: Debris is removed from interior and exterior areas.
• Reporting: Dated before-and-after photographs, occupancy status, completed work and estimates for any additional work.

The client provides a portfolio list or work order, and visits are scheduled within the agreed service window. Following each visit, Green Estate provides a report and, where additional work is needed, a written estimate. Work outside the package begins only after the client’s written approval. Repairs are performed by appropriately licensed contractors, in accordance with applicable requirements, based on estimates approved before work starts. Invoices for completed work are accompanied by supporting photographs.

The price per property is agreed upon in writing before work begins. Service windows and inspection timeframes are set out in the service agreement, while urgent inspections are priced separately.

“A vacant house does not report its own problems. Someone needs to check it before freezing weather arrives, and the owner needs a clear record of what was found and what was done,” said Matthew Kestler, Public Relations at Green Estate. “Our photo report documents the property’s condition, the work completed and any issues that may need follow-up.”

About Green Estate

Green Estate is a real estate company with offices in Norway and the United States. It works with owners, buyers and investors in residential and commercial property on both sides of the Atlantic. The company provides three services: transaction coordination from signed contract to closing, property preservation for lenders, servicers and investors with vacant properties, and real estate crowdfunding for eligible investors. Green Estate coordinates its work remotely in English and Norwegian, with one point of contact for each file. Learn more at https://greenfount.com.