“Title”

"You're buying a home, spending hundreds of thousands — sometimes millions — of dollars. But how do you actually know the seller owns it and can legally sell it to you? That's where 'Title' comes in."

What is Title? "Think of Title as the legal ownership rights to a property. It's more than having keys or living in the home. Title determines who legally owns the property and who has the right to sell, transfer, or borrow against it."

Why does it matter? "Before a purchase closes, a buyer's lawyer conducts a title search. They're looking for anything that could create problems, things like unpaid liens, easements, judgments, ownership issues, or restrictions attached to the property."

Real-world example  "Imagine buying a home and later finding out someone else had a claim against the property, or there was an issue with ownership that wasn't discovered. That's exactly why title searches and title insurance exist."

The takeaway  "Most people never think about Title because the legal team handles it behind the scenes. But it's one of the most important parts of protecting your investment."  Your realtor will watch over the title search process along with your lawyer until it is complete.  It isn’t usually an issue, but it is central to the transfer of ownership from the seller to the purchaser.

Putting the Offer together  “When you and your realtor are going over the offer, clause 10 (page 3) refers to a “Requisition Date”. This is the date for your lawyer to confirm there are no issues or to let you know what needs to be addressed to keep the closing on track.  Usually, we make this date 14 days before closing”

"If you're buying or selling and have questions about the process, reach out anytime. Understanding how things work helps you make better decisions."  YOUR SUCCESS Is Our Business