Any issue in a property's title history that could challenge the owner's legal claim, including liens, encumbrances, recording errors, or breaks in the chain of title.
Last updated: March 2026 · 9.4M+ properties indexed
A title defect is any issue that casts doubt on who legally owns a property or what claims exist against it. Title defects range from minor (clerical errors) to deal-breaking (forged deeds, undisclosed heirs). Common types include:
Title insurance protects buyers and lenders against losses from undiscovered defects. In NYC, ACRIS records are the primary source for identifying deed transfers, mortgages, and liens. RegWatch searches these records alongside DOB violations and ECB judgments to give a complete risk picture.
A title defect is any issue in a property's ownership history that could challenge the legal claim — liens, recording errors, breaks in the chain of title, boundary disputes, or undisclosed encumbrances.
Through a title search, which examines public records (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, tax records) for the property. In NYC, this primarily involves searching ACRIS records. RegWatch automates much of this process.
Title insurance protects the buyer and lender against financial losses from title defects that weren't discovered during the title search. In NYC, it's standard practice and typically required by lenders.
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