Where Can I Get My Title If I Bought A House?

WHERE CAN I GET MY TITLE IF I BOUGHT A HOUSE?

INTRODUCTION

When you purchase real property such as a house, you're said to be "taking title." What you receive, however, is a deed and perhaps an abstract of title summarizing your home's ownership history. When you purchase or otherwise receive property, your deed is added to its chain of title. Documents related to the chain of title are maintained at the applicable county property records office.

DEEDS AND TITLES

Property deeds are public record and available from the recorder's office or property records office of the county in which your home is located. When you purchase a house or other real property, you'll usually receive the deed when you close on the sale. Examining your home's title, though, will require you to go online or visit your county's property records office. A property's title is also generally composed of many separate documents, and searching through all of them can take several hours.

PROPERTY TITLE SEARCHES Depending on its age, a house or other real property's title can be quite voluminous. For example, a 50-year-old home's title may include deeds from several past owners, foreclosure notices, tax assessments and liens, land surveys and other documents. Records related to a property's title history are public as well, and can be researched at the applicable county property record's office. Property title companies partly exist to search titles on behalf of homeowners, property investors, mortgage lenders and any other interested parties.

ABSTRACT OF TITLE

In addition to a deed, another document you may receive when you take title is an abstract of title, also called a title abstract. A title abstract is a brief recitation of a property's ownership history.

Using an abstract of title, you can see whether your home's title history is clear or if old liens and other encumbrances or clouds on the title exist. You can order an abstract of title for your home from a property title company.

TAKING TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY Any liens on a property you purchase become your responsibility once you're the new owner. Never take title to a house or other real property until you've had an opportunity to examine its ownership history. Before approving and then funding your mortgage loan, the lender will also insist on a title search and a clear title. If you're paying cash for a home or other real property, you should also have its title researched and then an abstract of title delivered.

Article Source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/ Image Source: https://artesiantitle.com/