How to Check Property Deed Information

A property deed is a legal document that shows that a piece property has been transferred from a seller to a buyer. It is important to check property deeds before buying a piece of property to ensure that a seller has a valid title to the property. You should check for accurate spelling of names involved, a very specific and correct description of the property, and the type of deed which was given. To check property deeds, you should follow these steps.

Step One: Collect Information for Your Search. Before you can perform a search to check property deed information, you need to have accurate information for the piece of property at hand. You will need the property's tax identification number, last name of the property's owner, or the exact address of the plot of land. The more information you have regarding the property and its ownership, the easier your search will be.

Step Two: Check Property Deed Information Online. Although many counties have property deed information online, some cities do not have this online search capability. For this reason, you may choose to explore an online search website such as HomeInfoMax.com or PublicRecords.OnlineSearches.com to check property deed information. A free online search such as HomeInfoMax will give you not only property records, but title history, property valuation, and some lien information as well. If these websites do not provide enough information for your piece of property, you can try a paid search website such as TexasLandRecords.com, which may have additional information.

Step Three: Go In Person to Check for Deed Information. If an online search does not provide you with the necessary deed information, you will need to go in person to check the deed. The County Register's Office or the Tax Assessor's Office will have property records available for you to search manually.

If you want to see a copy of the actual deed, you can arrange with your local library to review the microfilm records at your state university through an interlibrary loan.

Step Four: Hire a Title Company. If you are buying a piece of property, it is best to hire a title company to check the property deed and chain of ownership for the property rather than perform the search yourself. Not only will a title company check the property records for you, but it will insure against any mistakes so that you do not have any future problems through relying on the information they give you.

References:

• HomeInfoMax - http://www.homeinfomax.com/Public/County_Records/TX-Texas/Wise_county.html

• Public Records Online Searches - http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/TX_Wise.htm

• ProAgency - http://proagency.tripod.com/wisecounty.html