How to do a title search

[N/A N/A]

Sorry if this is long. I generaly start with an on-line basic search then move to the court house. These are the areas I look at.

A title search generally includes mapping a chain of title by examining all the recorded deeds concerning the property. A chain of title is established by determining that the present owner received valid title from the prior owner, and the prior owner received valid title from that prior owner on down the line for a certain number of years.

What’s on the title?
You will find:
• the names of the owner(s) of the land;
• description of the land;
• easements;
• mortgages;
• Caveats; and covenants.

What you can find and where:

TAX ASSESSOR’S OFFICE

WHAT YOU CAN FIND:

• LEGAL DESCRIPTION
• PROPERTY DATA
• TAX APPRAISAL

RECORDER OF DEEDS

WHAT YOU CAN FIND:

• HISTORY OF TITLE
RECORDED DEEDS

ELEMENTS OF A VALID DEED

 Name of the grantor
 Name of the grantee
 Recital of consideration
 Legal description of the property
 Words of conveyance
 Signature of the grantor
 Acknowledgment
 Delivery and acceptance

TYPES OF DEEDS

 General Warranty Deed
 Special Warranty Deed
 Quitclaim Deed
 Deed of Trust / Mortgage
 Release Deed
 Trustee’s Sale Deed
 Sheriff’s Deed

DEEDS: BOOK ACCESS

1. USE PROPERTY’S LEGAL DESCRIPTION
FOR SUBDIVISON INDEX TO LOCATE LAND
LIST BOOK / PAGE NUMBER

2. PULL OUT LAND LIST BOOK, TURN TO
CORRECT PAGE NUMBER AND NOTE
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

3. LOCATE TRANSFER OF TITLE

4. GO TO MICROFILM AND PULL
THE CORRECT BOOK, THEN
SEARCH FOR THE CORRECT
PAGE.

5. VERIFY CURRENT AND
PREVIOUS OWNERS ON
WARRANTY DEED

DEEDS: COMPUTER ACCESS
1. SELECT NAME OPTION ON THE FIRST SCREEN

2. TYPE IN NAME OF CURRENT OWNER

3. CROSS REFERENCE LEGAL DESCRIPTION FOR DEEDS RECORDED ON SUBJECT PROPERTY

4. BEGIN SEARCH WITH WARRANTY DEED, THEN CONTINUE SEARCH FOR OUTSTANDING DEEDS OF TRUST

5. DEED OF TRUST:
VERIFY PARTIES, NOTE AMOUNT, TERM OF LOAN, INTEREST RATE IF AVAILABLE

TREASURER OR COLLECTOR OF REVENUE’S OFFICE

WHAT YOU CAN FIND:

PROPERTY TAX BILL

 THE PROPERTY TAX BILL

Morgage still owed:

How do we estimate the amount owed on a property?

Say the Mortgage Date was 1/1/94 for $200,000 at 7.75% interest. The monthly payment is $1,510.66 and using the loan amortization it has a balance of $148,223.48 left on the mortgage. Since the loan was in 94 for $200,000 and about 10 years has gone by we have a great equity spread even without even considering property appreciation.

I will also post the form I use.

Lisa