8 Title Issues That Delay or Kill Closings
Closings blow up when you miss eight repeat title traps. These include unpaid liens and judgments, and unreleased mortgages with bad payoffs. Public-record or legal-description errors can also misindex owners. That can create confusion over who actually holds title. You may also face forged deeds and fraud flags. Odd notaries or sudden satisfactions often force insurer-backed cures. Other common delays come from unknown heirs and probate gaps. If the chain of ownership isn’t clean, the deal can stall fast. Boundary or survey mismatches can derail underwriting. Easements may also steal access or reduce buildable area. Open permits or unpaid assessments can stop lender funding. Keep going and you’ll see how to pre-clear each one before closing. Title Issues From Unpaid Liens and Judgments Because a lien or judgment attaches to the property—not the person—you can have a clean-looking deal on paper and still watch your closing stall at the eleventh hour. In one ALTA survey, title problems ...
