Transfer of Property Flashcards
What’s is a Deed
The receipt of sale, transferring of title to real estate from one party to another
Title
Concept of ownership
Not a physical document / actual ownership
Alienation of title
Loss of ownership
Involuntary alienation
is a forced loss of ownership
-example foreclosure
Why is Stamping important?
It creates a public record of ownership to the property.
Fee is not mandatory but if not paid then technically previously listed person is owner of such.
A deed is Valid with the following min. criteria is met
- must be handwritten
- granter is legally competent
- names the grantee
- Involve the exchange of consideration
- complete and accurate description of land
- must include a granting clause
- Must have delivery and acceptance
Cloud Title
Something wrong with the ownership of the property
Chain Title
History of properties
Criteria in order for deeds to be valid
- Must be written (per Statute of Frauds)
- The grantor must be legally competent
- They must involve the exchange of consideration (evidenced by a recital of consideration.)
- They must include a complete and accurate description of the land
- They must include a granting clause (usually just words “grant to”)
- Must have delivery and acceptance
Habendum Clause
(Latin for “to have and to hold”)
When the interest being granted needs to be denied or limited (e.g. life estate)
Recordation
The act of making the title transfer public record at the county registry of deeds.
-Provides constructive notice of the title transfer
List Four Types of Deeds
Type of deed impacts extent of grantor’s liability fo any future issues with the title of property
- General Warranty Deeds
- Special Warranty Deeds
- Bargain and Sale Deeds
- Quitclaim Deeds (Non-Warranty Deeds)
Quitclaim deed
Non-warranty deed, grantor not liable for any claims against the title
conveys whatever interest grantor has at the time of the title transfer
A grantor is not liable for any claims against title
Can be used to correct mistakes on a title or in bank foreclosures.
General Warranty Deeds
- The grantor is liable for any defects against title
- They can be useful when the BUYER wants protection against unknown title defects (clouds on the title or another ownership issue)
Special Warranty Deeds (Limited Warranty Deeds)
States only that the grantor received title to the property and they did not cause issues with the title.
- Only liable for claims against title if those claims originated during their term or
ownership.
Bargain and Sale Deed
Grantor states they have the rights to convey ownership of the property even they may not own it
Also now as a certificate of sale
Massachusetts Recording Stamps
A fee for recording and selling
Expense paid by the seller (grantor)
-If seller does not record their deed, they are still supposed to pay for the recording stamps
Outline How Property Transfers Work
Step 1: Property is listed and put under agreement
Step 2: buyer’s lender (bank usually) hires an attorney or title company to perform a TITLE SEARCH, where the buyer gives the lender a note to evidence their debt and a mortgage to secure the debt.
Step 3: Municipal lien certificate is issued by the bank’s attorney to create a public record that the bank is the first lienholder on the property.
Step 4: Attorney pats the seller and the seller’s broker
Land Description and surveys
A full legal description of the land is the properties address, a survey of the land an drafts of the land description (size, shape and improvements on lot);
ILC (Improvement location certificate
This is not a complete survey and isn’t valid in court.