Buying a property is the biggest financial decision most people will make in their lifetime. You want to make sure you are thorough during every step of the process so you won’t discover any big shocks after you close. A property title search is the process of gathering documents that show who has the legal right to own the property in question and, through that ownership, to sell it. While it may seem simple and obvious that the home seller is the owner, there may be hidden claims or liens on the property by other parties that the seller and buyer may be completely unaware of and could lead to problems for you and your family down the road. This is why it is important to find a reputable title company to carry out a property title search during the home buying and selling process.
The Benefits of a Property Title Search
A property title search performed by an experienced title company during the home-buying process has many benefits. Pinpointing issues in the early stages, such as property liens, will cut down on delays and can even save you money.
- If a lien is discovered on a property you are interested in, settling it early can help you avoid complications that could have turned into large issues later. For example, property liens that aren’t dealt with can make getting a mortgage loan from a financial institution much more difficult.
- If a property lien for unpaid taxes is on the books and the sale of the home goes through, local government agencies could attempt foreclosure on the home. Taxes are attached to a home, not a person, so the current owner could be liable for those funds. Other property liens can be filed for various reasons, including work on unpaid renovations, child support payments, and even credit card debt.
- Without a property title search, many other issues could sneak up on you when you finally decide to close on your new home, including undisclosed debt or encroachment. Working with a title company will help you avoid these last-minute issues.
Conducting a Property Title Search
You may be wondering what exactly a title company does when conducting a property title search. Put simply, they search through the title records of the property, starting with the current owner and going backward. However, it isn’t always as simple as it sounds to find all the information despite most of it being public records. Depending on the jurisdiction, liens and judgments on a property may be filed in a number of different ways – the name of the buyer, the name of the owner, the street address, lot number, etc. A thorough title search will include information about mortgages, street and sewer assessments, taxes and levies, and countless other issues that could taint an otherwise sound transaction.
Commonly Asked Questions About New Jersey Property Title Searches
We get a lot of questions from our New Jersey clients about the title search process. Here are some common questions we are asked:
- How Long Does It Take for a Property Title Search in NJ?
- Why is a Property Title Search Important?
- What is Involved in a Property Title Search?
- How Far Back Does a Property Title Search Usually Go?
- What is the Purpose of a Property Title Search?
- What Will a Property Title Search Reveal?
- Who Pays for Property Title Search in NJ?
- Are Property Titles Public Record?
- How Much is a Property Title Search in New Jersey?
- How Do I Check if My Property Has a Clear Title?
- Is a Title Search Required When Refinancing?
- How to Resolve Common Title Issues?
- Who Performs a Property Title Search?
- Are There Any Problems That a Title Search Cannot Reveal?
- Can You Do a Property Title Search On Your Own?
We can help you understand the property title search process with answers to these questions and more.
