What Is a Title Report in Real Estate?

A title report is a document prepared by a title company that details a property’s ownership history, recorded liens, easements, legal description, and any issues that must be resolved before closing.

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💡 Why a Title Report Matters

A title report gives buyers, sellers, lenders, and title companies a clear picture of the property’s legal status before closing. It identifies issues that could affect ownership or delay the transaction.

  • ✔ Confirms legal ownership
  • ✔ Reveals liens, judgments, or unpaid taxes
  • ✔ Shows easements or restrictions
  • ✔ Helps prevent closing delays or disputes
  • ✔ Used by title companies to issue title insurance

Related: What Is a Title Search?

📌 What’s Included in a Title Report?

A title report typically includes all major recorded documents and risk factors affecting the property:

  • Ownership history (chain of title)
  • Legal property description
  • Current owner of record
  • Liens & judgments (tax liens, mechanic’s liens, court judgments)
  • Mortgages and releases
  • Easements & encumbrances
  • Restrictions & covenants (HOA, zoning)
  • Pending lawsuits or lis pendens
  • Tax status (current or delinquent)

See also: Chain of Title

🔎 Title Report vs Title Commitment vs Preliminary Title Report

These terms are related but not identical:

  • Title Report: Factual summary of findings from the title search.
  • Preliminary Title Report (Prelim): Early version used in some states (especially CA) to preview title conditions.
  • Title Commitment: The title company’s promise to issue insurance once listed requirements are met.

For details: What Is a Title Commitment?

❗ FSBO Warning: Issues in the Title Report Can Delay Closing

If the title report reveals unresolved liens, missing releases, name mismatches, or lawsuits, the title company may halt closing until these issues are cleared.

  • Unreleased mortgages
  • Federal or state tax liens
  • Judgments or child support liens
  • Boundary or easement disputes
  • Unknown heirs or ownership conflicts

Related: What Is a Title Defect?

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