How to Find Out About a Person Whether It Is a Real Estate Owner?

Making sure that a particular person is the true owner of the property is a key action in any real estate deal. It does not matter whether one is buying, renting or investing; it is always good to check ownership to prevent frauds and any legal problems. This manual will make you get a glimpse about what simple actions can you possibly do in order to find out whether someone really possesses the ownership of a property or not, in easily comprehensible terms and in brief paragraphs.

 

The significance of Verification of Property Ownership

It is always important to know whether the individual you are doing business with is indeed the owner of the property before you sign a contract document with him or before you give him money. Others have landed in pit holes whereby bogus agents or those people posing as property owners have turned out to be false. The security of the ownership confirms your money and assures you of peace of mind.

 

What does it mean to Own Property Verification?

Property ownership verification involves verifying the people or individuals who claim to own a property by doing the necessary checks with the authorities to ensure they are registered as the legally owned entity. The government departments or land departments in your city/country usually keep such records.

 

  • Request an issue of Title Deed to the Property

The simplest and easiest one is to request the individual to produce the title deed. The title deed is a document, which indicates the real owner. It must comprise the name of the property owner, its number, the area, where it is located and its size.

Ensure that the name on the ID card is the same with the name on the title deed of the individual. It is a red flag, in case they do not want to present the deed.

 

  • Asks the Property Owner to get a copy of his Emirates ID or copy of the Passport

In the UAE or any Gulf nations, you also may demand a passport or Emirates ID of the owner. This assists to verify whether the name corresponds with that in the title deed. Make sure that there is no expired ID.

 

  • Visit the Land Department

In most cities there is a land department or real estate regulation body. Either you can visit their office or their official web portal (as far as it exists). There are departments which normally offer a service to check ownership records with the property number or title deed number.

The details may require a small fee or filling a form. After this has been verified, you will be able to know whether the registered owner is the individual or not.

 

  • Use Online Verification Services

There exist websites where people can check who owns a given property. You just type the details of the property i.e. Number of the title deed or plot number and the system displays the name of the registered owner.

In case you are in a locality where property records are on a digital system, then this is one of the quickest and easiest means of confirming the property owner.

 

  • Ask the Real Estate Agent or Broker

When you are buying it with a real estate agent, then request the agent to bring the evidence of ownership of the seller. The licensed agents possess the type of documentation regarding ownership and this may assist in validating the real estate papers.

Take care, however. Agents may not be notorious but not all of them will be honest so it is better to confirm the official detail yourself.

 

  • Get Help from a Real Estate Lawyer

In case you are unconfident in some documents, you should refer to a real estate attorney. It is also important to appoint a lawyer so that you can get some assurance on ownership and also ascertain that there is no pending case concerning the property or a loan or some other issue legally concerning the property.

This action can be costly, but it can save you the huge loss of money.

 

  • Check for Mortgage or Liens

At times, one can have an ownership of a certain property yet the property has already been mortgaged or is faced with a financial dispute. You are also advised to look at whether or not liens (legal claims) are placed on the property. These are recorded in areas of land department or they can be traced upon legal services.

 

  • Tenants Confirmation (in case the Property is Rented)

In case the apartment is not empty, you will have an opportunity to talk to the tenants. Enquire to them who their landlord is and whether he/she is known to them. This provides you with an added proof of the identity of the owner.

This method alone should not be taken; it should be applied each time, with the official documents.

 

  • Check Utility Bills

A more intelligent method is to request new utility receipts e.g. water, electricity, or gas. Such bills are normally under the name of the owner. When the name on the bills is the same as the title deed and ID it further provides more evidence that the individual is the rightful owner.

 

  • Do Not Turn A Blind Eye to Red Flags

Be very careful in case the individual refuses to produce documents or hurries the transaction or insists that all cash payments should be made without papers. All this spells out potential fraud.

Never rush and always be unstressed. Follow your feelings and make sure that you check everything correctly.

 

Conclusion

You should be informed of how to discover whether a property was properly in the hands of its rightful owner because it can make you avoid starting in your own home which happens when you are not careful in the real estate business. Always have a look at the documents and always confirm it in an official way especially when purchasing or just viewing. There are some simple precautionary measures which you can take and this can help you save the day the next time.