NYC Property Intelligence

How to Do a Title Search in NYC

Search ACRIS for ownership history, mortgages, liens, and encumbrances on any NYC property.

11City agencies
9.4M+Properties indexed
<3sPer profile
Search the recordLive
Records across 9.4M+ tri-state properties — no address needed.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Search ACRIS

ACRIS records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. RegWatch automates this search.

2

Trace the chain of title

Follow deed transfers backward to verify ownership history. Look for gaps or irregularities.

3

Check for encumbrances

Review outstanding mortgages, UCC filings, lis pendens, judgment liens, and tax liens.

4

Generate an abstract

Compile findings into a title abstract. RegWatch generates 13-section abstracts automatically for an affordable flat fee.

Additional Details

A thorough title search also checks DOF for tax liens, ECB for judgment liens, and court records for judgments. RegWatch aggregates all of these sources.

What You Get with RegWatch

  • Search any NYC address instantly
  • Data from 250+ government sources
  • Professional PDF reports
  • Title abstract generation
  • Portfolio monitoring
  • AI property analyst

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free way to do this?

You can search some NYC agency databases for free individually (ACRIS, DOB BIS, HPD Online, DOF). RegWatch offers a free account: free property viewing plus saved buildings with in-app compliance alerts. Our coverage extends beyond NYC to Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and New Jersey counties.

How long does this take?

Manually: 30 minutes to several hours per property depending on depth. With RegWatch: under 3 seconds for a complete profile from 250+ sources.

Do I need any special tools?

No special tools required. RegWatch works in any modern web browser. For manual research, you just need internet access to city agency websites.

How current is the data?

RegWatch data from official NYC sources is updated multiple times per day. Most records are within 24 hours of the agency databases.

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How to Do a Title Search in NYC | RegWatch