In Florida, a municipal lien search is a standard search that is ordered by the closing agent in virtually every real estate transaction. Lien search is a bit of a misnomer because the lien search searches for more than just liens. Lien searches search for municipal liens, permit issues, code enforcement violations, outstanding city special assessments, tax issues, and outstanding amounts due for utilities. A lien search is important because much of the foregoing issues cannot be found in the public record or using a city’s website.
If you opted to buy a property without lien search, then there are a variety of problems you can be buying without knowing it. Municipal liens, permit issues, code enforcement violations, city assessments, tax issues, and utilities owed are the responsibility of the owner of the property. If you purchase a property with any of the foregoing issues, they will become your problem. I have seen lien searches discover serious problems with properties, from excessive unpermitted work that would take tens of thousands of dollars to remediate to tens of thousands of dollars in code enforcement fines. You do not want to inherit these sorts of issues.
The cost of a municipal lien search is a couple hundred dollars and it can save you time, energy, and money. There is no good reason not to order a municipal lien search for your real estate closing.
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