Land purchase question

[marshman]

How would you go about finding out if a piece of property you are considering buying is actually owned by the owner? and if there are any back taxes or anything else that would effect the sale attached to the property? Is there a way to find things like this out without paying a title company to do a title search? If the individual that is selling has the deeds to the lots I am considering and can provide proof he paid the current taxes is that enough to satisfy you if it was you buying?

[Charles]

Title Company

[BSOB]

County tax Office

[Split Arrow]

How would you go about finding out if a piece of property you are considering buying is actually owned by the owner? and if there are any back taxes or anything else that would effect the sale attached to the property? Is there a way to find things like this out without paying a title company to do a title search? If the individual that is selling has the deeds to the lots I am considering and can provide proof he paid the current taxes is that enough to satisfy you if it was you buying?

You can go to the courthouse run records yourself.

You could also look into it at the appraisal district, as they will have the tax and ownership information available there. Most counties have their records available online, so you could do the search from your computer and be 95% sure of the ownership/taxes due within the next five minutes. If you PM me the name of the person you think owns the property and the country where it's located, I'd be happy to help. (IF the appraisal district has online records, of course)

[BrianL]

Property search.

http://www.trueautomation.com/index.php/Property_Search

[Grayson]

How would you go about finding out if a piece of property you are considering buying is actually owned by the owner? and if there are any back taxes or anything else that would effect the sale attached to the property? Is there a way to find things like this out without paying a title company to do a title search? If the individual that is selling has the deeds to the lots I am considering and can provide proof he paid the current taxes is that enough to satisfy you if it was you buying?

Online county records for the county in which the property is located should tell you that information, if the county is among the more sophisticated counties among us. If not, you may have to go to the deed records office and the tax office to get answers to your questions.

[cj7zrcool]

It is absolutely owned by the owner. A title search by your title company should reveal anything outstanding against the property.

[TxDispatcher]

I personally wouldn't purchase land without a title company doing a search IMO. My ex wife works for a title co, and I've heard too many stories of people getting bent over by someone. That being said, you can probably do a search yourself...but if you miss something, you have no recourse wherein with a title co, they're responsible if they miss something. Just my 0.02

[Grayson]

I personally wouldn't purchase land without a title company doing a search IMO. My ex wife works for a title co, and I've heard too many stories of people getting bent over by someone. That being said, you can probably do a search yourself...but if you miss something, you have no recourse wherein with a title co, they're responsible if they miss something. Just my 0.02

You are correct, and I ignored the second half of the OP. I would do my own search to find out what I could about the property, but I wouldn't actually do the transaction without a signed contract and title work.

[scdavis50]

How would you go about finding out if a piece of property you are considering buying is actually owned by the owner? and if there are any back taxes or anything else that would effect the sale attached to the property? Is there a way to find things like this out without paying a title company to do a title search? If the individual that is selling has the deeds to the lots I am considering and can provide proof he paid the current taxes is that enough to satisfy you if it was you buying?

If you are serious about it, make them an offer and get a title commitment. That shouldn't cost you anything, and worst case you're out the contract fee if you are worried they have a bunch of liens.

If you're only worried about taxes, check with the central appraisal district records - they should have a website -- and then verify that current property taxes are paid with the county assessor. Most counties use either an APN (assessors parcel number) or a property ID (a number that starts with a "R"). Should be free to verify both of those.

Again, both should show up on a title commitment.

[marshman]

Thanks for all the info. I contacted a title company in Hemphill and they only charge $81.00 for a search, so for piece of mind I will get them to do one.

[scdavis50]

Thanks for all the info. I contacted a title company in Hemphill and they only charge $81.00 for a search, so for piece of mind I will get them to do one.

Good luck. Hope it works out! My guess is you wouldn't be wondering about it unless you had a reason to.

[Throwin Darts]

Thanks for all the info. I contacted a title company in Hemphill and they only charge $81.00 for a search, so for piece of mind I will get them to do one.

I assume you are paying cash for the property? Because a lender isn't going to finance it without a title policy.

And why would you spends a bunch of money on land and not protect your ownership with a title policy? If you don't want to pay for it then include the cost of a policy paid by the seller in the contract.

[Grayson]

I assume you are paying cash for the property? Because a lender isn't going to finance it without a title policy.

And why would you spends a bunch of money on land and not protect your ownership with a title policy? If you don't want to pay for it then include the cost of a policy paid by the seller in the contract.

I was under the impression he's just in the due diligence phase right now, investigating title to the property in order to determine whether it's something he wants to purchase.

[marshman]

I was under the impression he's just in the due diligence phase right now, investigating title to the property in order to determine whether it's something he wants to purchase.

Exactely