title search

Definition

A deep dive into public records to verify legal ownership and uncover liens, judgments, or claims. Property background check revealing whether you're buying real estate or a lawsuit.

Example Usage

The title search revealed three liens, two easements, and a boundary dispute dating to 1987, turning their dream home into a legal nightmare.

Origin

Essential practice formalized with modern property recording systems

Fun Fact

Title companies maintain 'title plants'—massive databases of property records—that can track ownership back decades or even centuries.

Source: Real estate closing and title insurance terminology

Related Terms

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yield maintenance

A prepayment penalty on commercial loans calculated to ensure the lender receives their originally expected yield, even if you pay off the loan early. It's the financial equivalent of breaking up with your bank and having to pay damages.

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subject to inspection

The escape hatch in every smart buyer's offer—a contingency allowing them to back out or renegotiate if the inspection reveals the house is held together by hope and termites. It's the 'just kidding' clause of real estate.

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prepayment penalty

A fee charged for paying off a mortgage early, compensating lenders for lost interest income. It's the bank's way of punishing you for financial responsibility and denying them years of interest payments.

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escalation clause

A contract provision that automatically increases your offer above competing bids up to a maximum price. It's bidding war automation for people who enjoy financial anxiety.

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tax abatement

A reduction or elimination of property taxes for a specified period, typically offered as an incentive for development or renovation in targeted areas. It's the government's way of bribing you to improve neighborhoods they've neglected.

🏠 Real Estate

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whisper listing

An even more secretive version of a pocket listing, shared only with a select few high-net-worth clients. It's so exclusive that talking about it too loudly could violate the whole point.

🏠 Real Estate

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