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Real Estate vocabulary · Contracts, Deeds & Title

Title

Meaning in real estate, with examples

/ˈtaɪtl/nounCore term

In real estate, title means: The legal right to own a property, together with the records that show who the owner is and whether anyone else has a claim on it.

In Turkish: mülkiyet hakkı, tapu kaydı, mülkiyet

How it is used

Before a sale, lawyers or title companies run a title search to confirm the seller really owns the property and no debts are attached to it. A clear title means no problems were found. US buyers often buy title insurance.

Example sentences

  1. The title search showed an old loan still registered on the property.

  2. We can't complete the sale until the seller proves clear title.

Common collocations

  • clear title
  • title search
  • title insurance
  • transfer title
  • hold title
  • deedA signed legal document that transfers ownership of a property from one person to another or proves who owns it.
  • lienA legal claim on a property by someone who is owed money, such as a lender, a tax office or a builder, which usually has to be paid off before the property is sold.
  • land registryThe government office or database that records who owns land and buildings, together with any mortgages or rights attached to them.
  • freeholdFull ownership of a property and the land it stands on, with no time limit. The owner is called the freeholder.
  • closingThe final stage of a property sale, when the remaining money is paid, the documents are signed and ownership passes from the seller to the buyer.

More terms: Contracts, Deeds & Title

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