Research Title myself

[Alfredo O.]

ok, folks.  Now that I have my own property, where or how can I research the title myself?  

Tarrant County, Tx.

Thank you all in advance.

[Michaela G.]

A lot depends on your local courthouse and the way they keep records. 

Absolutely, always get title insurance. 

With that said, I taught myself to research titles, because I dealt a lot with vacant lots, that used to have houses on them 20-30 years ago. Difficult titles. Has come incredibly handy. For example I managed to get 10 properties from a defunct mortgage company, that other investors had been licking their chops for. But they just went with who was supposedly owner on title and didn't do any further research. 

That is in Fulton county, Georgia - Atlanta.   When I moved to the Westcoast I realized that we really have it good in Fulton county, because we have access to everything, via computer in the courthouse or older deeds are all in old books. I've researched +100 years back on some properties. Hardly any of that stuff is accessible in California. 

So, it depends on your locality. If it's open for research, then I would really suggest for you to teach yourself. You have no idea what you can find, if you deal with old properties or difficult titles. I don't want last minute surprises, when the attorney gets title a day before closing and says 'oops!'

But as others suggested, definitely also get title insurance through your closing attorney or title insurance.