Chain of Title Archives

July 12, 2021April 25, 2024

Not Entitled? Owners of “Heirship Properties” Locked Out of Disaster Relief

An older and younger person laying on the floor in a living room coloring or doing school work together.

July 2021 — Elsa was the earliest “E” storm we’ve ever experienced, and Colorado State University now has raised its 2021 Atlantic hurricane season prediction. We should now expect 20 named storms, says CSU. This, after the unprecedented 2020 hurricane season.

Disaster relief funds will be vital this year. And this brings up multiple problems for people in the hurricanes’ paths with no clear title to their homes.

May 21, 2021April 25, 2024

Deeds, Reimagined: Is a New Day Dawning for the Chain of Title?

Image of a very large steel chain with the sun shining through one of the links. Captioned: Is a New Day Dawning for the Chain of Title?

Art met real estate in a new way this year. Krista Kim’s Mars House design appeared on the first irreplaceable, non-fungible token (NFT) for a virtual house and garden. Kim’s virtual experience was followed by an NFT listing for a home in New York (a real one) on the Ethereum blockchain.

Think it’s all a flash in the pan? Look again. Blockchain’s tamper-resistant ledger system offers tremendous benefits for real estate deeds. It’s poised to transform the way we trace a chain of title. And the rise of NFTs just shows how fast things are moving.

October 9, 2019April 25, 2024

How to Prove Ownership of Real Estate

You own real estate. If you’re asked, how do you show proof of your ownership?

Essentially, the proof is in your property’s title history. This means:

Your ownership interest is only as good as the interest conveyed to you by the last owner; and
Others could have dibs on your property, if you used it to borrow money.

Of course, when you bought your home, the title company researched the chain of title to ensure previous owner had the right to convey to property to you. How do you check the chain of title now? The county keeps records. Many county websites make the information accessible online, so you can look up mortgages, other liens, and deeds that pertain to your property.

March 19, 2019April 25, 2024

What is the Chain of Title in Real Estate?

In real estate, the chain of title is the history of the property’s ownership. When a property is sold, the title is transferred, and these transfers form the chain. Researching the chain of title is among the tasks performed by a title company when a buyer signs a contract to purchase a property. The chain of title for any property is found in the relevant county recorder’s office, and there’s no reason you can’t conduct your own search to determine the chain of title. All the information is in the public record. Keep in mind that state laws governing the recording of real estate transfers differ, so the chain of title process in one state may differ somewhat from the chain of title process in another.

Chain of Title Documents

Formal documents maintain the chain of title. The chain ends with the most recent document affecting the property. Types of documents included are:

June 9, 2014April 25, 2024

Avoiding Delays in Closing Pertaining to Defects in the Chain of Title

Any number of circumstances can delay or cancel a closing in a real estate transaction. Some issues are beyond control, but others can be easily managed by a concerted effort between the Realtor, the buyer, the seller, and the lender. The reasons for a delay or a cancellation can range from buyer’s remorse, rejection of loan, a failed home inspection, or a defect in the title. A Realtor should do all they can to avoid delays or cancellations.