At the dawn of American history, if you wanted to purchase property, you needed to do so with the help of a profession known as a “conveyancer.” These folks ensured that properties were not owned by anyone besides the seller and that there weren’t any liens on them. Modern title companies around Destrehan today perform the same tasks for clients as conveyancers from the past, but with the added benefit of providing clients with title insurance in case there are any problems with the title transaction.
A title is the record of ownership for a property, like a vehicle or a house. The title records the people who owned it in the past, says a description of the property, and provides information about present liens. For instance, if you purchase a house, then your mortgage would be considered as a lien on the title and reflect on it accordingly. A title is different from a deed document, which you’ll receive after the sale has closed saying you’re the owner of the property.
Title companies near Destrehan are third parties that work for the security and benefit of both sellers and buyers. They’re hired to undertake due diligence and insure the title of a property during a transaction. Title companies are important because if a home is purchased, but the true legal owner is unknown, then the current resident might only own a portion of the property, if even anything at all. This causes calamity for everyone when the legal owner shows up to claim it. A reputable title company nearby, like Crescent Title, is able to provide buyers with title insurance that defends their interests and protects them from liabilities as part of the closing process. Now that you better grasp the importance of hiring a local title company, you can dive deeper into the finer points of their services.
Crescent Title's abstractor will conduct thorough research of the property's title history in the courthouse to verify ownership and real estate taxes, obtain mortgage payouts, uncover apparent title deficiencies or encumbrances such as liens, judgments, which may be disclosed on the title report. Every title search is examined by an experienced attorney to ensure the proper procedures are followed.
Crescent Title also works with local third party property surveyors, who, for an additional charge, can at the request of a party prepare a survey of the property to confirm that a home occupies only the area indicated on the title, among other matters. After all, you don’t want to find out that the home is actually on someone else’s property or that a neighbor’s fence is actually on your own.
Title companies around Destrehan provide title insurance to parties in real estate transactions. Title insurance is a type of insurance policy that protects the policyholder (typically a homebuyer or lender) from financial loss in the event that there are defects or issues with the title to a property. These defects or issues may include claims of ownership by others, outstanding liens or judgments, undisclosed heirs, or other encumbrances that can affect the ownership or use of the property.
In Louisiana, it's typically the buyer of the property who pays for the title insurance policies of both the buyer and the buyer's lender. Thankfully, title insurance only needs to be paid once, unlike most other insurances. Clients will be covered under the title insurance policy for as long as they own the property.
Title companies near Destrehan operate to close transactions without headache or hassle. Still, it’s normal for first-time buyers or sellers to have a few questions about title companies nearby. That’s why Crescent Title has put together a few of the most common questions about title companies here:
Even though working with a reputable title company nearby is usually required by mortgage lenders, it’s not demanded by the law itself. With that said, it’s a wise idea to work with a local title company rather than close the transaction alone, especially if you’re paying with cash. This makes sure that your investment is safeguarded.
Although title companies in Destrehan can’t remove liens on their own, they can work with buyers and sellers to negotiate outcomes relating to liens uncovered while researching a property’s title. It’s always up to the seller to choose what actions, if any, they’d like to take.
The seller and the buyer may choose to work with different title companies; there is no law insisting that both parties are represented by the same one or that one party’s choice has precedence.
Experienced title companies around Destrehan, such as Crescent Title, can discover problems with titles such as:
Crescent Title works diligently to safeguard your financial interests while ensuring your title transfer goes smoothly. Decades of experience has seen us close countless sales successfully, and we continue to expand our property title services in Destrehan and beyond. If you’re interested in working with the best title company around, send us an email or give us a call today to start the process!