What is the primary purpose of a title search in Nova Scotia real estate transactions?

What is the primary purpose of a title search in Nova Scotia real estate transactions?

• A. A title search reveals ownership, liens, encumbrances, and other matters affecting title; it's critical to ensure marketable title at closing.
• B. It confirms the exact property boundary on the ground.
• C. It determines the sale price based on market trends.
• D. It certifies the condition of the home.

Answer: (A)

A title search reveals who owns the property and what interests or claims affect that ownership, and its main purpose is to ensure marketable title at closing. In Nova Scotia real estate transactions, your lawyer or notary reviews the land records to confirm the registered owner and to uncover any liens, mortgages, judgments, caveats, easements, or other encumbrances that attach to the title. This allows the buyer to know exactly what they’re receiving and to ensure there are no hidden claims that could interfere with ownership after the transfer. A title search does not determine property boundaries on the ground—that’s what a survey does—nor does it set the sale price or certify the home’s condition. Those are handled by separate processes (boundary surveying, market analysis, and home inspections, respectively).

A title search reveals who owns the property and what interests or claims affect that ownership, and its main purpose is to ensure marketable title at closing. In Nova Scotia real estate transactions, your lawyer or notary reviews the land records to confirm the registered owner and to uncover any liens, mortgages, judgments, caveats, easements, or other encumbrances that attach to the title. This allows the buyer to know exactly what they’re receiving and to ensure there are no hidden claims that could interfere with ownership after the transfer. A title search does not determine property boundaries on the ground—that’s what a survey does—nor does it set the sale price or certify the home’s condition. Those are handled by separate processes (boundary surveying, market analysis, and home inspections, respectively).