All Forum Posts by: Amanda Farrell

Florida is unique when it comes to unrecorded or municipal liens that don't show up in the public record. Although these aren't "technically" liens because they aren't recorded, they still become an issue for future owners to resolve because the violation and/or fees always attach to the property and not the individual. Real estate is regulated at the state level, so you should always consult a professional in your area, so you aren't given misinformation. 

I work for a company in Florida that does municipal lien searches and provides other title support services to title agents and real estate attorneys. Here's an article on  how to do a municipal lien search. It doesn't hurt to do some of this research on your own, so you're aware of what governing municipalities have jurisdiction over your property, but I highly recommend that you work with a title agent or real estate attorney and get homeowner's title insurance. Be sure that the real estate contract and title commitment have a municipal lien search as a requirement and the policy will protect against unrecorded liens. Also, be sure to ask for a FULL municipal lien search including permit history.

I work at a municipal lien search company in Florida. Texas is a little different in the way that they process and record municipal issues like code violations. They have something called "title plants" that title insurance agents use to access information on a property's legal history. I'm not sure what information title plants have that aren't possibly listed in the public record, but here's an article on how to do a basic title search to find liens.

Let me know if you have any other questions.