What exactly is a title search, and what does it accomplish?
A title search is an examination of the public records that discovers any liens, defects, restrictions, easements, etc. to which a property may be subject. A title search provides information to the requester (usually an attorney for North Carolina closings) that explains how or whether a property can be conveyed with "clean title". The attorney uses this information to acquire loan payoffs, tax bills due, judgment or lien payoffs, etc. in order to "clear" the title for the next owner.