What information does a title search provide the purchaser of property?

Answer 1

it provides informaton regarding the property- everthing from sq. footage to loans, easments, etc.

TITLE GEEK ADDS:

The property searches are taken from the county/municipal/state recorders's offices and typically include:

1. County/Town search showing documents of record such as mortgages, deeds, any recorded easements, building setbacks, agreements, Lis Pendens (intent to foreclose), etc. It may also include Superior Court judgments and liens;
2. Tax searches showing County/state/city real estate taxes, school taxes, sewer & water charges, etc.
3. Searches may also include a Superiour Court search for documents that are recorded only at the state level (Example: NJ has superior court search since that is where court ordered judgments, liens and child support liens are filed.)
4. A SURVEY will provide the square footage of the property (Lot size), boundary lines, etc. however, this is something done separate from a normal title search and not typically ordered by the title agency unless requested by the prospective buyer.

NOTE: A search is not a title commitment/binder to insure. It is simply a search of the public records. A title commitment will also include specific requirements to be met in order to insure the Owner / Loan Policies such as paying off the current mortgages, any liens on the property, etc.

Additionally, the title commitment will also have exceptions to coverage, like outstanding ongoing RE Taxes, any easements, restrictions or conditions that run with the land and are of record, any leases or life estates to the property, etc.