What is the Purpose of a Property Title Search?

Learn the importance of a property title search in real estate transactions. Ensure clear ownership, identify legal issues, and protect your investment.

What is the Purpose of a Property Title Search?

You have finally found your dream house. It will be perfect with a white picket fence and a modern kitchen. All paperwork is in place, and loan approved, and you almost feel the scent of fresh paint. 

Hold on! Before you open the champagne to celebrate, there is a crucial step to go before you can drink the champagne: the property title search. Now, before your eyes glaze over at the mere mention of paperwork, listen to this: this might be the difference between a happy homeowner and a legal nightmare for some of these people.

Think of the title search as your backstage pass for your real estate transaction. It will give you inside information about the history, ownership, or any other potential hiccups concerning the property. 

You don't want to close the doors of your new home after a very long search, only to end up in court with a claimant who claims the house, do you? Worry not because Sankalp Title Services is here to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. Are you ready? Let's take a look at what a property title search entails and why it is so significant.

What is a Property Title Search?

A property title search is essentially an inquiry into the legal past of a property. It is kind of peeling back the layers of a home's past, to make sure there are no skeletons in the closet or, instead, in this case, the deed. This is usually done by a title company such as Sankalp Title Services in Texas.

They check out public records on the property, affirm ownership, check if there are any existing liens, and check also if there's any legal claim or dispute that could affect your right to own the property.

It is probably one of the most critical steps during the process of buying or selling a home. If it isn't done, you may end up owing someone else's debt burden or face property disputes, or even worse, losing your house. That's where Sankalp Title comes in, and we are your expert in title services in Texas to ensure that everything is fine and dandy before closing.

What a Title Search Can Find

What does a property title search discover? You would be amazed at what unknowns may appear in property history. Such as, for example, the following are a few things that a thorough title search can reveal:

Ownership Disputes: It must confirm the fact that the seller has the right or authority to sell the property, ensuring that no one has any kind of dispute or claim upon the property.

Liens or Judgments: Sometimes, the former owner may have some debts that would be incurred at the time of your sale. Examples include unpaid property taxes, contractor bills, and even court judgments. Unless cleared, these liens may assume your problem after the sale.

Easements: A title search would also make a person aware of whether there are any easements on the property-meaning that a third party has a right to use part of your land. That can be a utility company, or it could be a neighbor who has a legal right to part of your driveway.

Restrictions or Covenants: Some properties have restrictions or covenants that the seller places on the land-usages. As part of a title search, you'd know whether there are any restrictions regarding what you can or cannot do with the property, for instance, whether you can install a swimming pool or not.

At Sankalp Title, we just do not leave any stone unturned when it comes to conducting a title search on a piece of property. Our job is to ensure that you can walk into that new home with your eyes wide open and no nasty surprises hiding in the wings.

The Title Search Process

Now that we know what a title search can uncover, let's talk a little bit about how the process is going to work. When you choose Sankalp Title Services we initiate the title search the moment we sign a contract with a buyer or seller.

Here is how it works:

Public Records Search: Our experienced research team sifts through the local government databases, property records, and public documents to trace the ownership history of the property. We look for anything that can impair your legal ownership.

Research liens and encumbrances: We search for any liens or encumbrances on the property. These include taxes, mortgages, and judgments that the previous owner hadn't paid. If we find any liens or encumbrances, we will work with the seller to remove them prior to closing.

Verify Legal Descriptions: We check that the legal description represents the real property you are purchasing. You would not want to wind up with only half of the lot you thought you were buying, would you?

Prepare the Title Report: Once we've completed our digging into the property's history, we'll prepare a title report and point out everything we found. You will know just what you're getting yourself into before ever putting pen to paper on the closing papers.

Title Insurance: After the search is done, we will help you obtain title insurance so that you may be protected against any bad news arriving on the scene in the future. Even a good title search may not reveal everything instance, hidden heirs or forged documents. Title insurance leaves all of that in the future for you to worry about. It gives you that assurance and protection by covering potential future claims on your title.

Why does a property title search matter?

By now you should probably have an idea of the bigger picture: a property title search is entirely indispensable in the protection of investment.

But let us break it down a bit further:

Prevention of Future Disputes: Imagine for instance, after shifting into your new home, that someone stands at your door and claims that they have a right on the said property. Ownership disputes can be prevented by having a title search.

Avoid Financial Liabilities: Undisclosed taxes on a property, liens, or judgments could follow that property to its new owner-you! A title search ensures that those financial burdens do not accrue to you upon closing.

Ensure Clear Ownership: The main point of doing a title search is to establish that the seller has a clear title to the property. You don't want to buy a home, only to discover at a later date that there are outstanding legal claims on that property.

As a title company, Sankalp Title eradicates guesses and ensures everything falls into place for the smoothest stress-free exchange. We've got your interest covered, helping you close the deal with confidence.

Contact Sankalp Title Services Today

Ready to make your real estate transaction a breeze? Whether you’re buying, selling, or refinancing, Sankalp Title Services offers the best title services in Texas. Our experienced team handles everything from property title searches to title insurance, ensuring your transaction goes off without a hitch.

Have questions? Need help navigating the title search process? We’ve got your back. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you every step of the way.

Conclusion

In the grand scheme of real estate transactions, a property title search may seem like just another item on the checklist—but trust us, it’s one of the most important steps you can take. It protects you from hidden legal issues, ownership disputes, and financial headaches, ensuring that your dream home stays yours, free and clear.

With Sankalp Title Services by your side, you can rest easy knowing that your property title is in good hands. We handle the details, so you don’t have to. Whether you’re buying, selling, or refinancing, our expert team is here to help you every step of the way.

Don't skip this crucial step—reach out to Sankalp Title today and let us protect your next real estate investment.