Understanding What Property Title Deeds Are
Defined as legal instruments, Property title deeds are printed documents that indicate the ownership of a real estate property. In case a sale is made, the title deed is transferred to the buyer, and this is the only proof needed to identify the rightful owner of the property. Title deeds are given by county authorities, though you retain a copy to defend ownership in case anything comes up. The title deeds therefore, do need to be registered with the local administration, so that it can be archived, or kept safe for retrieval when they are needed.
There are different kinds of Property title deeds available, and while they serve a related function, they are worded differently. They contain different pieces of information, specifying things such as the rights and allowances that the new buyer of the property has. The common kinds of deeds available range from the general warranty deed, the special warranty deed as well as the quitclaim deed.
As a buyer, it is always best to go for the general warranty deed. It binds the seller into a covenant, thereby granting more protection to the seller. The quitclaim deed is preferred by sellers as it is not as binding. But many buyers opt not to go for it, because of the significance of the risks involved. The warranty deed however gives the buyer a guarantee that there is no other person that the property has been sold to, and that the property is not tied down in any financial or legal messes, with the exception of the mortgage payments, if they exist.
Understanding property title deeds in detail takes time, especially if you don’t have deep knowledge reserves concerning real estate. Your agent can help you go thru those deeds documents, and give you advice on the best kind of title deed to go for, as well as the implications of getting the title for the property if it has encumbrances.
Availability of Property Title Deed information
Property deeds information and records are available for free should you want to get a second copy of property deed. County authorities are charged with the task of maintaining these and other documents. To ease access to those who need them, they provide the details over the internet. There is no fee involved and the information is shared freely, but only when you have a commanding reason to need the details in the first place.
The Property title deeds may have their names changed, but this is not the case with the mortgages taken for the property. It’s important to ensure that both the mortgage and title deed are under the same name. The only way to get your name on the mortgage agreement is through refinancing. This has the additional benefit of getting you lower repayments, should your credit be better than the owner who previously had control over the property.
Do try and take time to understand the contents of the title deed as far as the rights that you’re entitled to as the property owner. Sometimes you might not be allowed to make structural adjustments to the property, and this is usually specified in the deal itself.