{"id":109256,"date":"2026-03-16T09:12:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T16:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=109256"},"modified":"2026-03-16T09:12:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T16:12:26","slug":"what-is-a-preliminary-title-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preliminary-title-report\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Preliminary Title Report and Why is it Important When Buying a House?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A preliminary title report shows whether a seller is legally allowed to sell the home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can reveal issues, like liens or easements, that could cause problems with the sale.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should address any issues immediately with your agent and title company.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beginning the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/steps-to-closing-on-a-house\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">closing process<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on a home is an exciting time, but there are several steps you\u2019ll need to clear before officially receiving the keys. One of those steps is to get and review a preliminary title report. If you aren\u2019t familiar with why a preliminary title report is important, don\u2019t worry, we\u2019re here to help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this Redfin article, we\u2019ll outline what a preliminary title report covers and why it\u2019s important for you as the buyer. Whether you\u2019re <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/8903\/TX\/Houston\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">buying a house in Houston, TX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/1826\/MA\/Boston\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">condo in Boston, MA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, here\u2019s what you need to know before you receive your preliminary title report.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a preliminary title report?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A title refers to the legal ownership rights to a property and its history of ownership. After the buyer and seller sign the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-a-purchase-and-sale-agreement\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">purchase agreement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an attorney or title company will review the home\u2019s title. They\u2019ll look for any problems that may prevent the home from being legally sold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The results are written up for the buyer in a preliminary title report. You\u2019ll usually get your preliminary title report within a few days, which you should review as soon as you receive it. You typically only have a few days to review the report and raise concerns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A preliminary title report is not the same as title insurance. Instead, it identifies potential ownership issues or claims that must be resolved before the title insurance policy is issued at closing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do I need a preliminary title report?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The preliminary title report will show if anyone other than the seller has a legal claim on the property. For example, a title report could show that the seller is recently divorced and is selling the home without the permission of their ex-spouse. It can also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-find-liens-on-a-property\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reveal any liens<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or issues that prevent the home from being sold to a new owner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What issues should I look for in a preliminary title report?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/real-estate-agents\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">real estate agent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, attorney, or title company can provide specific guidance on what to look for in the report. In general, you\u2019ll want to look for the following types of issues:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mortgage liens<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as an encumbrance, a lien is a legal claim of ownership listed on the title of the home. There are a few types of liens, but mortgage liens are the most common. When you get a mortgage, your lender will have a substantial lien on your home until the mortgage is paid off. This lien allows the lender to take possession of the home and sell it if the homeowner has not made mortgage payments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tax liens<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tax liens are also common, as any property taxes that are still due are considered a \u201clien.\u201d The current owner must resolve their property tax bill before the home can be sold. There may be additional tax liens on the property, such as income or federal taxes, if the current owner has not kept up with these payments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easements<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-an-easement\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are legal rights that allow someone else to use a portion of a property for a specific purpose. Most commonly, easements are granted for city access, such as utility easements, water and sewer lines, or trash pickup. However, sometimes an easement may be an agreement between neighbors, such as the use of a road.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An easement doesn\u2019t prevent a home from being sold. However, it may limit what a buyer can do with the property, which could affect their decision to move forward with the purchase. Keep in mind that easements can be removed from the title, but both parties need to agree to the removal.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encroachments<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An encroachment is another type of encumbrance, and it occurs when a structure or feature extends onto a neighboring property without permission. For example, this could be a fence, tree, or underground structure that encroaches onto your property, but does not belong to your home. Encroachments are often unintentional, but it\u2019s best to clear up the issue before buying the home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CC&amp;Rs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re purchasing a home that\u2019s part of an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-an-hoa\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HOA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&amp;Rs) may be listed on the title. CC&amp;Rs are a set of rules the homeowner must abide by as outlined by the HOA. Examples include approved paint colors, landscaping expectations, or restrictions on yard decorations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do I clear up issues with the title report?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there are issues with the title report, it\u2019s important to address them immediately. You\u2019ll need to work with your real estate agent, the seller, and the title company or attorney that performed the review. You typically only have a few days after receiving your report to raise concerns or request corrections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, it\u2019s in the seller\u2019s best interest to help clear up any title issues \u2013 they want to sell the home as much as you want to buy it. Issues can usually be cleared up by negotiating easements with neighbors or by redrawing property boundaries to include or exclude trees, fences, or other items that are creating conflicts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there are problems with the report that cannot be cleared up, such as financial-related liens, you may want to consider backing out of the sale. If you have a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/contingencies-in-real-estate\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">title contingency<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you can use this to back out of the deal without repercussions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs about preliminary title reports<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who orders the preliminary title report?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The seller or the title company will order the preliminary title report, but it\u2019s usually the buyer who pays for the report as part of closing costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much is a preliminary title report?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A preliminary title report typically costs anywhere from $75 to $250. Note that some areas cost as much as $500.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a clear and marketable title?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A clear and marketable title means that the current owner can prove they legally own the property and that there are no unresolved claims, liens, or ownership disputes that would prevent the home from being sold to a new buyer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can I back out of the home sale if there are issues with the report?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the issues on the title report are serious enough to make you want to back out of the deal, you should notify your agent immediately. Should you have a title contingency, you can use this to back out of the sale without repercussions. If you don\u2019t have one, then you may lose out on your earnest money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a title contingency?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A title contingency allows the buyer to back out of the sale if there are issues uncovered with the title, such as conflict of ownership or property rights issues, that may prevent the home from being sold.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A preliminary title report shows if anyone other than the seller has a legal claim to the property. Learn why this document is important as a buyer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":537,"featured_media":88175,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[34276],"tags":[34618,34629,34617],"coauthors":[33440],"class_list":["post-109256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-a-home","tag-buying-definition","tag-first-time-homebuyer","tag-home-buying-process"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Preliminary Title Report: Why You Need One | Redfin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A preliminary title report shows if anyone other than the seller has a legal claim to the property. 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