Kathy Marsico

A title search reviews public records to confirm legal ownership and uncover liens, claims, judgments, loans, or unpaid property taxes before a sale or loan.
Buyers, lenders, or other requesting parties typically hire a title company or attorney, because courthouse records and legal documents can be difficult to access.
After the search, buyers receive a preliminary title report, raise any issues with the seller, and decide whether to proceed before closing.
A clean title confirms clear ownership, while a dirty title can involve unknown liens, survey errors, building code violations, or record-keeping mistakes.
Title insurance adds protection if missed documents, forgery, fraud, unrecorded easements, lawsuits, or other past title defects create financial loss after purchase.

What Is a Title Search?

Refinancing replaces an existing home loan and can help homeowners secure a better rate, pay debt faster, or turn home equity into cash.
Top lender strengths highlighted in the US included online closings, credit union access, faster funding, FHA support, lower rates, and digital planning tools.
Standout perks included remote closings, possible appraisal waivers, no lender fees for some repeat borrowers, closing credits up to $1.5K, and faster approvals.
Common refinance paths included rate-and-term, cash-out, cash-in, streamline, no-closing-cost, and short refinances, giving borrowers different ways to adjust payments, documentation, or equity access.
Homeowners can refinance with a current or new lender, with no limit on frequency, though each application brings closing costs and a temporary credit hit.