One of the most important but often forgotten activities of purchasing or selling real estate in McIntosh County is a closing search. This valuable step verifies that the property being transferred is free and clear, with a marketable title at the closing date. That is, a closing search serves as your ultimate protection prior to money being exchanged and keys being turned over.
Here at Abstracts of McIntosh County, Inc., we conduct comprehensive, accurate closing searches that shield buyers, sellers, lenders, and attorneys from surprise title issues. If you’re new to what a closing search is all about, don’t worry- we’ve broken it down for you, step by step.
A closing search is a last-minute title review performed immediately before a real estate transaction’s ultimate closing. It ensures that no new documents (such as liens, judgments, deeds, or claims) have been filed against the property since the previous abstract or title commitment was completed. It’s final title, “snapshot”, taken just before the formal transfer of ownership.
Even though a title in one of the properties was checked several weeks prior, fresh records can still be recorded anytime. A lien, judgment, or quitclaim deed recorded one day before closing can jeopardize the whole transaction.
In McIntosh County, with its frequent transfers of long-held family plots or rural tracts with tangled histories, this final verification is particularly vital.
The first step is to determine the “through date” of the last title search or abstract. This is the cutoff point for the previous examination—anything recorded after this date needs to be reviewed in the closing search.
This data could be from:
The title abstractor makes a search of McIntosh County’s public records from the most recent effective date through the present date (usually the day of or the day before closing).
The search is for the following:
Our staff at Abstracts of McIntosh County, Inc. is experienced in the local grantor-grantee system, which allows us to locate pertinent records quickly and accurately.
This index enables the abstractor to see any action concerning the present owner(s) of the property. It’s an essential tool for locating newly recorded documents affecting ownership or the transferability of the property.
In McIntosh County, this is usually conducted at the County Recorder’s Office, either face-to-face or through computer systems, depending on record availability.
In addition to real estate records, the closing search can also involve an examination of:
These records are necessary to ensure that the seller possesses the legal right to convey the title—and that there is no third party with a claim on the property.
One of the most frequently neglected details is inconsistency in legal descriptions. If the legal description on a newly recorded document does not agree with prior records, it may signal errors or disagreements regarding the precise boundaries of the property.
The closing search double-checks that the property that is being sold is what is described within recent filings.
If a new lien, judgment, or document is found, the abstractor informs the buyer, seller, and/or closing agent promptly. These problems can:
Occasionally, the seller can take care of the problem before closing (e.g., by discharging a recently filed lien), and the transaction can go through as intended.
After examining all records and any problems resolved, the abstractor authenticates the closing search and issues a written report. This report can be included in the final title policy or closing package.
This ultimate certification reassures all parties—buyer, seller, lender, and attorney—of a clean title ready for transfer.
Closing searches in McIntosh County demand a thorough knowledge of:
That’s why using a local abstract company like Abstracts of McIntosh County, Inc. guarantees greater accuracy, quicker turnaround, and an in-depth familiarity with our region’s unique property terrain.
Rushing or omitting a closing search can result in:
Even a single missed document can cost thousands of dollars in legal expenses or lost rights to property. That’s why we always encourage a closing search for every real estate deal—no matter how straightforward it might appear.
At Abstracts of McIntosh County, Inc., we are experts in providing accurate, comprehensive, and timely closing searches to buyers, sellers, lenders, attorneys, and title companies. With our long history in the McIntosh County community, we know where to search, what to look for, and how to keep your transaction on the go.
What you can expect from our team:
Don’t leave your closing to chance. Contact Abstracts of McIntosh County, Inc. today to schedule a closing search or speak with one of our experienced title abstractors. We’re here to ensure your real estate deal is protected from start to finish.