Searching for Lien Records

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Searching for Lien Records On the Internet and Off

With the recent boom in the values of real estate there has of course been an increased focus on real estate as an investment. And in fact many savvy investors have been able to make a great deal of money through the buying and selling of houses and commercial properties. In addition, many people have been trying their luck in the difficult but potentially very lucrative world of bank foreclosures and repossessions. While buying foreclosed properties can often yield properties at prices substantially below normal market rates, it is important for investors to carefully check lien records prior to jumping into a particular house or piece of commercial property.

The reasons for checking these lien records are obvious, and it is more important to check lien records for foreclosures than for other kinds of real estate. That is because those properties that have reached the foreclosure stage are also those which are most likely to have liens and other outstanding issues. Furthermore, when purchasing foreclosure properties, the buyer typically does not have the ability to work with a realtor who could check those lien records. It is therefore vitally important for the buyer of the property to check for lien records or other outstanding issues that could affect the resale value of the property.

Fortunately, checking lien records is a lot easier than it ever was before, thanks to the enormous advances in technology that have taken place over the last couple of decades. The internet in particular has made the search for lien records a great deal easier and much less of a hassle. As more and more county, state and local governments place more and more of their real estate records online, it becomes much easier for individuals to search the titles of particular pieces of real estate for the presence of liens, outstanding loans and other holds that could affect the value of the property.

Even though many liens will be uncovered during the course of a normal title search, it may be a good idea to do a separate search of lien records on the property. This additional search of lien records is important for all kinds of property, but it is even more important when purchasing properties that have entered the foreclosure or bank repossession market. There can often be unforeseen circumstances and unforeseen financial issues with such properties, and knowing what issues may arise is the best way for the buyer to protect him or herself in case of a problem down the road.

There are many places to start this search of lien records, but one of the best places to start is at the web site maintained by the county courthouse. These county offices often maintain records of liens, loans and other issues, and many county courthouses around the country have begun to place many of those lien records on the internet for easy access. In some cases a trip to the courthouse itself may still be necessary, but the good news is that many lien records are available online.