Title work determines what actually has to be resolved
Owners sometimes know about a mortgage or tax balance but are surprised by judgments, contractor liens, estate issues, old deeds of trust or other recorded matters. A closing attorney's title search determines what affects the property and what must be satisfied, released, subordinated or otherwise handled for the transaction.
- Mortgage or home-equity loan statements.
- Tax notices or delinquent balances.
- Judgment or collection paperwork.
- Contractor or mechanic's lien notices.
- Divorce, estate or ownership documents that may affect title.
Some liens may be paid from sale proceeds
When there is sufficient equity and the lien is properly payable at closing, a closing attorney may use sale proceeds to satisfy valid payoff amounts and obtain releases. That does not mean every lien can be handled the same way, and disputed or insufficient-equity situations can require additional legal work.
North Carolina statutes recognize that real property may be sold to satisfy certain judgments and liens, but the exact priority and effect depend on the type of lien and the transaction. We rely on the closing attorney for those determinations.
You can request an offer before every title issue is solved
If you know the property has liens, tell us what you know. We can evaluate the real estate first and then allow the title process to identify the exact payoff and closing requirements.
If unpaid property taxes are part of the problem, see our Pitt County delinquent property tax guide. If the property is part of an estate, see our probate property guide.
Tell Us About the Property