Let's Talk Property Deeds

It used to be that all you had to do to sell your house was give the buyer a handful of dirt from the property and say a few legal words in front of witnesses to symbolize the transfer. How times have changed! Nowadays, there is an entire selling process, lawyers and fees needed to complete a real estate transaction. Selling a home also requires the transfer of property deed.

Property deeds are written documents used to transfer real estate from a seller (grantor) to a buyer (grantee). They include the actual transfer of the property, called the granting clause, a description of the property being transferred, called a habendum clause* and, usually, a warranty. Deeds also must be signed by the grantor. It is the warranty or lack thereof, that defines each type. Different types of deeds provide different assurances to the grantor and grantee and are used in different situations. 

General warranty deed

This kind of deed guarantees that the grantor is the owner of the property and has the right to sell it to the grantee. It also guarantees that there are no debts on the property or defects in structures other than those that are recorded in the deed. Lastly, it guarantees that should any unforeseen problems arise with the title, the grantor will reimburse the grantee for any losses. All of these guarantees extend to before the grantor owned the property; the grantor is responsible for title problems that arose before their ownership.

For this reason, title insurance is used to protect against possible claims and liens. A title company provides a full title search and explores any other possible breaches before the property is transferred. This is typically done through your lawyer during the buying process.

Special warranty deed

This warranty is extremely similar to the general warranty deed. This deed also includes the warranty that the grantor has the legal right to sell the property. However, it differs in that it only guarantees that there are no debts on the property or defects in structures other than those stated in the deed during the period of the grantor’s ownership. This kind of deed makes no guarantees outside of what the grantor had knowledge of or caused. For example, if the grantor sells a house in which the plumbing was working fine while he owned it, and the plumbing breaks after the sale as a result of a prior defect, the grantor cannot be held responsible. Other warranties can also be included in the deed if so stated.

Grant deed

This kind of deed implies that the grantor has the right to sell the property and that the property itself is unencumbered. However, it does not make explicit warranties like the above deeds.

Quitclaim deed

This kind of deed has no warranty at all. The purpose of a deed of this type is for one party to release any interest that they had in a piece of property. The deed doesn’t warrant that the grantor had any legal right to the property at all. Quitclaim deeds are usually used in divorce cases, in which one party releases any claim to the property. This party may not have any legal interest in the property, but it prevents them from, for example, claiming a right to money from the sale of the property somewhere down the road. Quitclaim deeds are also used in foreclosure cases.

Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure

When a homeowner misses several payments and defaults on a loan, sometimes they will transfer the deed of the house to the lender to avoid foreclosure. This can use any of the above deed types in the transfer. There is no transfer of money because the homeowner owes the lender; the lender sells off the house to recover at least part of what the homeowner owes. The lender also provides the borrower with a form that states the debt is cancelled and another that states that the lender cannot ask for what remains of the debt after the property sale.

Have any questions about deeds? Reach out! We would be happy to chat!

*habendum clause: the part of a deed or conveyance which states the estate or quantity of interest to be granted, e.g. the term of a lease.

Jordan Gunn
Licensed Real Estate Assistant
902-401-0373

Thinking of Moving to Halifax?

One of the hardest parts about moving to a city that you are unfamiliar with is picking which part of the city you will call home.

It can feel overwhelming browsing through so many unfamiliar neighbourhoods, schools, clinics and shops. You almost wish that there was a guide to each city, breaking down its most appealing attributes, exploring its unique characteristics, and narrowing down the choices for you.

We are positive that you are not the only one looking for guidance.

This is why we developed this free and comprehensive e-book detailing everything you need to know about relocating to Halifax, Nova Scotia. We know there is nothing worse than moving to a new city and finding out later that you should have bought a house in the west end rather than the east end, to be near a particular school, job, or club you are a part of.

One of the most important steps in moving to a new city is deciding on what it is that you need to live near. This is different for everyone. We hope that this informative guide about Halifax, Nova Scotia will make it a bit easier for you, and save you hours of scrolling through Google. With this guide, you can easily learn about your new home town, and focus on finding your dream home or condo instead.

Browse through this free guide to learn about everything from Halifax’s taxing system to local festivals that grace our downtown. Discover our beautiful beaches and educate yourself on our current government. We are certain that all of your questions will be answered.

Click here to receive our Halifax Relocation Package!