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How we perform your title search:
Step 1. Your
order is placed online or by phone. Our secure, encrypted server
collects the search information. Our title team identifies the
property, and we retrieve the preliminary property information. The
property identification and order information is transmitted to our
examiner / abstractor in the field, who manually searches the county
records at the courthouse.
Step 2.
The title
abstractor begins researching the records index to retrieve the
documents related to the subject property. Several separate records
rooms may need to be visited, depending upon the county. The
property documents are collected from the various books and volumes
where they are recorded over the years.
Step 3. The
documents are reviewed, to determine which items pertain to the
subject property. Mortgage documents and lien documents are cross-referenced for
releases, and assignments. The legal and vesting are compared on
each document.
Step 4. The
outstanding documents are compiled and the title search abstract is
created. The abstract document contains the summary listing of all
the recorded liens, mortgages, and deeds which were located. Lien
and mortgage amounts are entered into the title search abstract.
Step 5. The
documents and abstract are sent to the AFX home office. The order is
compiled by our title team, and the documents are annotated and
converted to a document image. The completed title search document
is uploaded to a private web link.
Step 6. An email
is sent to you, containing the private web link for your completed
search. From the email, your title document can be viewed on-screen,
or a copy can be saved to your local computer. You can also print a
hard copy, which is exactly the same as what we scanned in. The
title abstract document is an easy-to-read form, with separate,
itemized sections for ownership, legal, taxes, mortgages, and liens.
Step 7. We follow
up with a call, and email you to ensure that you have received your
search documents, and were able to access them. We have the title
search document viewing on our screen, and our title team reviews
this with you. Any questions or clarifications you may have as a
client are welcome.
All of this is
completed in 12 - 72 hours,
and your search is sent to you immediately. Throughout the process,
the entire team is monitoring the progress of every search. Our
title team is glad to be of assistance, we welcome your call.
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Isn't there an easier way to do a title search?
In the modern environment of the internet, and
"everything online", it is common to wonder why the process of running a
title search is so complex. Property title records are recorded and stored
as hard-copy paper documents. Information that is contained on hard-copy
documents cannot be stored easily in an online database, as can most other
types of records. Because of this, title searching involves searching
through all of the recorded documents for a property. Property records are
recorded in the individual county, each of which has different procedures for
the records office.
For example, to search for mortgages, the title
examiner must first locate the copies of mortgage documents signed by the
property owner. All of the papers for a property are not kept together in a
group. These copies are kept in books, with each volume corresponding to a
particular day and year. In order to locate all the open mortgages, the
examiner must go through all the books over time, and find the documents
that pertain to the subject property. The county normally keeps an index,
which helps the examiner know which books to look in. The examiner must then
look for documents that release any of these mortgages that were refinanced,
or paid off. The same process is repeated for liens.
In some counties, there are multiple records rooms
to go through. All of the information about the liens and mortgages is
contained in the wording of the documents which must be retrieved and read
individually. From this process, the title search abstract is created for a
property. |
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