When it comes to real estate transactions, a thorough title search is crucial for protecting your investment and ensuring a smooth closing process. Whether you’re the buyer or seller, understanding the best way to request a title search is an important step in the process. But what’s the best way to request a title search?

Before requesting a title search, it’s important to understand why it’s necessary. A title search can uncover potential issues with the title such as liens, outstanding mortgages or legal disputes that haven’t been resolved. A title search provides you with a history of the property’s ownership, ensuring that the title is clear and can legally be transferred to a new owner. Whether you’re the seller who wants to be sure they have a legal right to sell, a buyer who wants to be sure they’re getting what they’re paying for (and won’t be on the hook for costly title corrections), a title search is the best way to protect yourself.

Once you’ve entered into a contract to buy or sell a property, you should speak to a reputable title company. Look for a company that specializes in title searches with employees who are well-versed in local regulations. You will be asked to provide information about the property such as the address, legal description and names of current and previous owners. They will conduct a thorough search of the property’s history and provide you with a detailed report of any potential issues that could interfere with the transfer of the title.

Upon receiving your title search report, review it for an ownership history, outstanding liens, encumbrances and other relevant information. Discuss concerns or questions with the title company and your realtor; they can provide further guidance and clarity. If there are significant issues that arise from the title search, seeking legal advice from a real estate attorney is the next step. They can help you navigate complex legal problems and advise you on how to  proceed with the real estate transaction.

Requesting a title search is an essential step in a real estate transaction, giving you a more detailed look at what you are buying (or selling) and ensuring the closing process goes off without a hitch. A title search can offer peace of mind on one of the largest investments of your life, so call the title search experts at Clear Title today.

Pensacola: (850) 361-4029

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Pine Forest: (850) 202-8518