{"id":30111,"date":"2022-03-09T12:13:06","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T20:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=30111"},"modified":"2026-04-08T05:49:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:49:44","slug":"buyer-property-history-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-property-history-search\/","title":{"rendered":"What Can You Find In a Property History Search? Tips From People Who Work With Public Records"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When buying a home, taking a peek into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-to-search-property-records\/\">history of the property<\/a> is an important part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-closing-documents-for-buyer\/\">closing process<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This step is commonly referred to as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-find-liens-on-property\/\">title search<\/a>, title review, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-to-find-the-history-of-a-property-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">property history search<\/a> \u2014 but by any name, it involves delving into the formal records of a home and the property on which it sits. There are lots of potential red flags that could pop up once you start digging around, and the last thing you want as a new homebuyer is to later find out that there\u2019s a massive tax lien (for example) tied to your address!<\/p>\n<p>But what really goes on during a property history search? What kinds of issues could arise, and what are you supposed to do if something is uncovered?<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about the actual process of property history searches, we took a deep dive into research strategies and spoke with real estate professionals to glean first-hand insight.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n<section class=\"building-block bb-type-default bb-agent-quote bg-none\" id=\"bb-1\"><div class=\"body block\"><div class=\"container-fluid\"><div class=\"block-content\">            <blockquote class=\"post-blockquote\">\n                <q>A title search is very important. While it may be daunting to look through title history, the exceptions are really important.<\/q>\n                                    <div class=\"contributors\">\n                        <ul class=\"list\">\n                            <li>\n                                <div class=\"inner\">\n                                    <div class=\"opener\">\n                                        <div class=\"avatar\">\n                                                                                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.homelight.com\/uploads\/agent\/picture\/1675982\/normal_headshot2.jpeg\" alt=\"Margaret Labus\">\n                                                                                    <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"info\">\n                                            <strong>Margaret Labus<\/strong>\n                                            <span>Real Estate Agent<\/span>\n                                        <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n\n                                    <div class=\"contributors-detail-modal\">\n                                        <div class=\"holder\">\n                                            <a href=\"#\" class=\"icon-close close\">\n                                                <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close<\/span>\n                                            <\/a>\n                                            <div class=\"top\">\n                                                <div class=\"avatar\">\n                                                                                                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.homelight.com\/uploads\/agent\/picture\/1675982\/normal_headshot2.jpeg\" alt=\"Margaret Labus\">\n                                                                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"info\">\n                                                    <strong>Margaret Labus<\/strong>\n                                                                                                            <span>Real Estate Agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate<\/span>\n                                                                                                        <div class=\"rating\">\n                                                                                                            <\/div>\n                                                                                                            <span class=\"note\">Currently accepting new clients<\/span>\n                                                                                                    <\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                                                                                            <div class=\"btm\">\n                                                    <ul class=\"exp-list inline-list\">\n                                                                                                                    <li>\n                                                                <span>Years of Experience<\/span>\n                                                                <strong>22<\/strong>\n                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                                                                    <li>\n                                                                <span>Transactions<\/span>\n                                                                <strong>330<\/strong>\n                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                                                                    <li>\n                                                                <span>Average Price Point<\/span>\n                                                                <strong>$281k<\/strong>\n                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                                                                    <li>\n                                                                <span>Single Family Homes<\/span>\n                                                                <strong>274<\/strong>\n                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                                <\/div>\n                                                                                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/blockquote>\n        <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<div id=\"section--1\" data-toc-header=\"What does a property history search entail?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>What does a property history search entail?<\/h2>\n<p>A property history search involves a review of the property\u2019s ownership and public records history. The idea is to find any possible snags in the chain of ownership <i>before<\/i> they become a legal issue for the buyer.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/\">National Association of Realtors\u00ae<\/a> survey <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.nar.realtor\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/2021-12-realtors-confidence-index-02-07-2022.pdf\">released in December 2021<\/a>, problems with property titles accounted for 10% of delayed contracts and 4% of terminated contracts in the month of November.<\/p>\n<p>While those statistics actually look pretty good \u2014 just 4% of deals fell through due to title issues, compared to 11% that were canceled because of appraisal problems \u2014 the data is solid evidence that property history is a key factor in successful homebuying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA title search is very important,\u201d confirms top real estate agent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/margaret-labus-wi-74346\">Margaret Labus<\/a>, who has 18 years of experience in the Lake Geneva, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/states\/wi\">Wisconsin<\/a> area. \u201cWhile it may be daunting to look through title history, the exceptions are really important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawinsider.com\/dictionary\/title-exception#:~:text=Title%20Exception%20means%20any%20lien%2C%20declaration%2C%20easement%2C%20restrictive%20covenant,Property%20or%20any%20portion%20thereof.\">Title exceptions<\/a> are the different elements that are actually being hunted for during a property history search. Exceptions can include \u2014 but are certainly not limited to \u2014 the following.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--2\" data-toc-header=\"Deed inconsistencies\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>Deed inconsistencies<\/h3>\n<p>A property deed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/deed-vs-title\/\">differs from a property title<\/a>. A title is the concept of legal ownership, while a deed is a physical piece of paper on which ownership is recorded.<\/p>\n<p>Ownership of real property is conveyed through a so-called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterclass.com\/articles\/bundle-of-rights-in-real-estate\">bundle of rights<\/a>. This means that you (or whomever is the legal owner) have full rights to possession, control, exclusion, enjoyment, and disposition of the property \u2014 basically, when it\u2019s yours, you can do what you want with the place.<\/p>\n<p>During a property history search, researching the deed involves comparing the deed on file with all of the other accessible records and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-legal-documents-for-buying-a-house\/\">documents<\/a> to make sure that what\u2019s on record <i>now<\/i> checks out against the paper trail.<\/p>\n<p>A house typically can\u2019t be sold without a clear title, so the title search company will be looking for any inconsistencies with deed records.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--3\" data-toc-header=\"Mortgages\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>Mortgages<\/h3>\n<p>Unless a house was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-cash-offer-on-house\/\">purchased with cash<\/a> or has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/should-i-pay-off-mortgage\/\">paid off<\/a>, there\u2019s probably a mortgage tied to the address.<\/p>\n<p>Though a mortgage may show up on a property title for something as minor as a problem with properly recording the previous owner\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-is-reconveyance\/\">satisfaction of mortgage<\/a> \u2014 which is generally a quick fix \u2014 sometimes, the solution is more complicated.<\/p>\n<p>When a homeowner stops making payments on their mortgage loan, the bank will make efforts to recoup lost funds. This process generally begins with a notice of default, which kickstarts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buying-a-preforeclosure\/\">preforeclosure<\/a>. If the mortgage holder fails to bring their loan back to current status, actual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buying-a-foreclosure\/\">foreclosure<\/a> will commence.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s definitely possible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-does-buying-a-foreclosure-work\/\">buy a foreclosed home<\/a>, the transaction involves jumping through a lot of hoops and waiting weeks \u2014 or even months \u2014 between steps.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s rare that a home will be in foreclosure without anyone knowing about it, but a thorough property history search will nonetheless ensure that there won\u2019t be any disputes related to mortgage on your way to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/making-offers\/buyer-closing\/\">closing table<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--4\" data-toc-header=\"Liens\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>Liens<\/h3>\n<p>A lien is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nolo.com\/legal-encyclopedia\/what-property-lien.html\">legal claim<\/a> levied when a property owner owes money. Liens can absolutely derail a real estate transaction.<\/p>\n<p>Liens can be brought against a property for anything from a mortgage loan to unpaid taxes to plumbing repair services that were never paid for. A thorough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nolo.com\/legal-encyclopedia\/what-property-lien.html\">title search<\/a> should uncover any valid liens \u2014 and it\u2019s the seller\u2019s responsibility to clear them up before they can sell the house.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--5\" data-toc-header=\"Wills\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>Wills<\/h3>\n<p>If a homeowner has passed away, and a will is in place to specify to whom the property ownership should be transferred, the process should \u2014 in theory \u2014 happen smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>Things can be trickier if there is no will and an estate thus has to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/is-probate-necessary\/\">go through probate<\/a>, but in either case, there\u2019s sometimes a risk of a long-lost relative popping up to claim rights to the property. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mkpvlaw.com\/what-happens-when-missing-heirs-claim-ownership-of-your-property\/\">missing heirs<\/a> can complicate more than just your homebuying process \u2014 imagine if you\u2019ve happily owned your home for several months and then suddenly someone related to the previous owner emerges, insisting that they should have been the rightful inheritor and disputing your purchase.<\/p>\n<p>A property history search will look for any record of wills or estate settlements that could potentially signal a problem.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--6\" data-toc-header=\"Divorce settlements\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>Divorce settlements<\/h3>\n<p>Similar to the question of who gets a property in the event of a death, there can be disputes over who gets a property in the wake of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/selling-advice\/divorce\/\">divorce<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Again, this is generally decided either in court or between the couple parting ways, but this doesn\u2019t mean all parties will be satisfied. Property history searches help sniff out possible trouble if someone insists on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-keep-the-house-in-a-divorce\/\">how to keep the house in a divorce<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--7\" data-toc-header=\"Unpaid special assessments\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>Unpaid special assessments<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/special%20assessment\">Special assessments<\/a> can come from governments or local municipalities \u2014 they\u2019re taxes levied in the name of public improvements.<\/p>\n<p>These assessments are placed on properties that will directly benefit from the particular enhancement project \u2014 though whether a homeowner is personally excited about this turn of events may be another story. Nonetheless, they\u2019re a form of tax that must be paid, and any outstanding special assessments are likely to come up during a property history search.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--8\" data-toc-header=\"Other exceptions\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>Other exceptions<\/h3>\n<p>Labus notes that title exceptions can also take the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clta.org\/page\/article6\/A-Legal-Introduction-to-Easements.htm\">easements<\/a> (legal access to a property, often for utility purposes or in the event of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/selling-a-house-with-a-shared-driveway\/\">shared driveway<\/a>), issues with surveys (property lines are important!), or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-hoa-dues\/\">homeowner\u2019s association<\/a> lien for unpaid dues.<\/p>\n<p>But exceptions can take many forms, so don\u2019t be shy about asking questions if the history search on your property-to-be brings up anything you\u2019re not sure about.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf there are any exceptions on the list that you don\u2019t understand, you should have a conversation with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/title-company\/\">title company<\/a> directly,\u201d says Labus.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30113\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30113\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"A person doing a property history search online.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30113\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Dann Digitama \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"section--9\" data-toc-header=\"Where can you find property history details?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Where can you find property history details?<\/h2>\n<p>Okay, so we\u2019re clear on what you might find in a property history search, but <i>how<\/i> do you actually go about finding anything?<\/p>\n<p>It usually starts with public records \u2014 and there are more available sources to tap than you might think.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPublic records will generally include construction and sales documents, major financial events (like foreclosures), and significant insurance-related events \u2014 such as fires, floods, and tornadoes,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/renttoownlabs.com\/\">Martin Orefice<\/a>, an investor and property expert in Orlando.<\/p>\n<p>Orefice notes that your city or state\u2019s historical society may also prove useful if the house is particularly old. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/tips-for-selling-a-historical-home\/\">Historical homes<\/a>, especially those that have been protected by a preservationist society, often have a fascinating paper trail even if there\u2019s nothing problematic to be found.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-is-a-plat-map\/\">Plat maps<\/a> are another great source of information. These documents show how property is divided, which are especially useful if your potential home is part of a neighborhood and you\u2019d prefer to avoid quibbling with neighbors over property lines.<\/p>\n<p>As a real estate investor specializing in off-market properties in Houston, <a href=\"https:\/\/housecashin.com\/\">Marina Vaamonde<\/a> has conducted numerous property history searches \u2014 and she\u2019s noticed a recurring issue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDisputes over the boundary lines of the property are a really common red flag. I\u2019ve had properties where different surveys show different property lines, which means that the buyer and seller quite literally don\u2019t know what they\u2019re buying and selling,\u201d Vaamonde says.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/property-survey\/\">Property surveys<\/a> can be thought of as a more zoomed-in version of a plat map. Whereas a plat map will show the division of a large swath of land, a survey looks specifically at one parcel of that divided land. Cross-checking a survey against a plat map is a logical first step in the event of a boundary dispute.<\/p>\n<p>Additional sources of valuable property history information include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">The sales <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/listing-agreement\/\">listing<\/a>. Property listings are already pretty thorough, and if the house has been sold more than once, the old listings should be floating around out there, too. You can always <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-find-owns-property-neighborhood-anywhere\/\">Google the address<\/a> of the home and see what comes up!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">The tax assessor\u2019s office. Tax records are often available online and indicate the amount of property tax due on a property each year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/research\/census\">Census records<\/a> can lend insight into previous owners of a home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/research\/land\/land-records\">Land entry records<\/a> can prove useful when trying to establish a chain of ownership \u2014 such as when a supposedly missing heir knocks on your door eight months after closing and claims that your home rightfully belongs to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">If you\u2019re purchasing a historic or otherwise older property, you can always ask the county library if they have any information about the area that may be relevant. While it\u2019s unlikely that the librarian will have a book on hand detailing the origins of your specific proposed home, they might be able to point you in the direction of an unexpected informational tidbit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30114\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30114\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"People discussing property history search.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/property-history-search-1.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30114\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Surface \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"section--10\" data-toc-header=\"What happens if there\u2019s a problem?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>What happens if there\u2019s a problem?<\/h2>\n<p>Some property history search red flags are clear as day, such as when there\u2019s a notice of default in public records.<\/p>\n<p>But problems aren\u2019t always immediately evident \u2014 especially if you\u2019re not working with a lender to purchase your property.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it\u2019s a cash transaction, you need to have a very keen eye out because there\u2019s no safety net of a lender asking about this or that lien,\u201d warns Labus. \u201cHaving an attorney is always a good idea when you\u2019re looking at title history.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-real-estate-agents\/buying\">your real estate agent<\/a> can provide property history information and offer referrals to appropriate experts, agents are not allowed to provide legal advice in most states. Which means that even if you or your agent is the one to uncover something troubling about the title to your potential home, they can\u2019t actually counsel you on what to do next.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to work with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/house-closing-attorney\/\">closing attorney<\/a> to facilitate a proper and professional title search \u2014 they have the knowledge and access to thoroughly investigate a property\u2019s history, <i>and<\/i> the power to see the process through to resolution.<\/p>\n<p>The good news \u2014 at least for you as the buyer \u2014 is that resolving title issues falls squarely into the seller\u2019s court before ownership of the property can be transferred. Anything troublesome that pops up during a property history search will be brought to the seller\u2019s attention, and they\u2019ll have the opportunity to either pay off an outstanding balance (if it\u2019s a financial issue), or to provide adequate documentation (if the problem involves inconsistency with records).<\/p>\n<p>That being said, human error can and does happen, and it\u2019s possible that a title problem can later be uncovered in even the most thoroughly vetted home. This is where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-is-title-insurance\/\">title insurance<\/a> comes into play.<\/p>\n<p>Title insurance protects you financially from undiscovered liens, false or erroneous documents, unrecorded easements, and even claims of ownership. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketmortgage.com\/learn\/title-insurance\">Coverage<\/a> is usually equivalent to the purchase price of your home and lasts for as long as you own the property. This doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll be free and clear of any inconvenience, but title insurance at least means you won\u2019t be saddled with someone else\u2019s unpaid debts that weren\u2019t known to you at the time of purchase.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--11\" data-toc-header=\"Leave the property history search to the professionals\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Leave the property history search to the professionals<\/h2>\n<p>Though it might seem like Google searches and combing through public records is easy enough work to tackle on your own, this is one area of real estate you\u2019ll definitely want to leave to the professionals \u2014 other than maybe poking around the library out of curiosity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRecords are open to the public \u2014 but honestly, you wouldn\u2019t know what you\u2019re looking for,\u201d says Labus. \u201cI\u2019ve tagged along with title searchers before, and it\u2019s quite the maze they have to navigate to produce a title report.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe title to your property is a lot of money on the line. It would be a penny wise and a pound foolish to do it yourself \u2014 hire those experts and make sure it\u2019s done correctly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Header Image Source: (Jan Loyde Cabrera \/ Unsplash)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When buying a house, the property history search is a critical part of the closing process. What really goes on, and what issues could arise?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":30115,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[192,629,633],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-buyers","category-home-financing","category-property-values"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pursuing a Property History Search? Public Records Expert Tips<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When buying a house, the property history search is a critical part of the closing process. What really goes on, and what issues could arise?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-property-history-search\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Can You Find In a Property History Search? Tips From People Who Work With Public Records\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When buying a house, the property history search is a critical part of the closing process. 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