Online Title search company

[Joseph Mceneaney]

Does anybody know of on- line   title search company that is the cheapest or shall I say less expensive to do title searches in order to buy properties from foreclosure/ court house  sales

[Pat K.]

hi Joseph,

You may want to try Suburban West Abstractors

https://www.subwest.com/ I have used them previously. I usually do my own research using the online court house records search.  If you do not fully understand how to purchase sheriff sale properties, you should learn that first. This is not an area where you learn as you go. You could end up buying more (liens) than you thought. As an example: lets say there is a property with a first ($200,000) and second ($50,000) mortgage. The market value of the house is $260,000

 The second mortgage is doing the foreclosing. So at the sheriff sale you are bidding on that second mortgage.  So if you are the successful bidder, with a high bid of $55,000 you may think you just got a great deal and you are going to make $200,000.

Surprise, you get the first mortgage ($200,000) too!! That first mortgage does not get removed!! you also need to pay for state transfer tax. If the property was occupied and the parties do not move out, you will need to start an eviction with the sheriff office. That can take some time and money, and then they may destroy the property when they finally do leave.

What may be safer if you are new to foreclosures, to contact the homeowners weeks before the sheriff sale. No pressure.