Title Search

What Is a Title Search? A title search is a detailed investigation of public land records to establish the chain of ownership for a piece of real property and to discover any outstanding claims, liens, easements, or encumbrances that could affect a buyer's ability to obtain clear title. Title searches are a standard step in virtually every real estate transaction. ## What a Title Search Reveals - The current legal owner of the property - Any outstanding mortgages or liens (tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens) - Easements or rights of way granted to third parties - Restrictive covenants or deed restrictions - Pending lawsuits or judgments affecting the property - Unpaid property taxes or assessments ## Title Insurance After a title search is completed, buyers typically purchase title insurance to protect against undiscovered defects in the title. There are two types: owner's title insurance (protects the buyer) and lender's title insurance (protects the mortgage lender, usually required). Title insurance provides coverage for losses arising from title defects that were not found during the search, such as forged documents, undisclosed heirs, or recording errors.