Title Search - who are you goin to call

[jreist]

I am sitting on the shore and want to jump in.

Who do you call for a Title Search, how are they listed in the yellow pages?
Do you have to deal with someone in the search area or are there companies that do prov. wide?
Can someone recomend a company?

John Reist
Kitchener, ON

[Frank]

Here's a link to a title search company that does it in Ontario at a reasonable price:

http://www.bdc-canada.com/DOCUM/services/land_registry_search.htm

I've never used their service and can't vourch for them.

Most lawyer's offices use 'e-reg' to do their transactions and searches these days, and nearly all of the registry offices in Ontario are now on it (but not all - they are being phased-in).  If you know what your are doing you can go to the registry office for the property you are looking at and do your own search for $8 (photo-copy costs are extra if you need them - I usually get a copy of the property R plan).  Some municipalities include the PIN number in their information kit, but you can get it easy enough at the registry office provided you know the address or legal description of the property.   

If you don't know what you are doing, go the registry office anyways.  They all have free-lance searchers that hang out there (they work on a consulting basis with the lawyer's offices), and for a small fee they will help you with your search (and you can learn something) - by looking dumb I've had some of them take pity on me and gotten free guidance as to what and where to look for.   Just ask at the main desk if there is a free-lancer in the office and they will point you to him/her (chances are they've already done the search on your property ten times that same day for other tax property enthusiasts).

[jreist]

Thanks Frank

I get off work early on tomorrow and will be heading off to the registry office. but the question I have will I be able to access properties in another region through the registry?

[Frank]

Each registry office houses the information for property within its specific area of jurisdiction.  There is a previous posting which lists the location of all registry offices.  You can only get information for the properties within their respective areas.  The new e-reg system is designed to cover all of them electronically, and most sophisticated lawyers and title shops will have spent the money to get on this system. 

Their areas do not always make much sense, for example the registry office which covers properties in Nipissing village (which is only about 10 miles from North Bay - where there is a registry office), is actually in Perry Sound - quite a ways off.   When you are looking at a municipal tax sale property, a simple call to the tax office there will tell you which registry office looks after the property in question.

I don't believe that geo-warehouse has all of the information which is required to do a property title search.

Good luck

[Frank]

Go to this site for the latest list and status of each of the registry offices:

http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/4UJMZ3.htm

There are 54 of them.

[Rob]

I also left a sticky post here:

http://taxsaleproperty.org/forum/index.php?topic=26.0

They are the latests as of 2 months ago

[jreist]

Called up the local registy office and they refered me to a freelancer. I told him I was wanting to do a E REG Title search of propertry in Prince Edward County and he checked his list and it had not been setup yet for this service and won't be till the Summer. The only way was to call someone in Picton.

Before I call I checked the listings and found that the Mchill property that I was interested in had just been  canceled "DANG"   

[GregM]

Well, I tried to get a couple of title searches done today through http://www.bdc-canada.com/DOCUM/services/land_registry_search.htm and wasn't successful at all..with them. Being a newbie, I wasn't exactly sure which of their many options was what I needed.. a basic title search and an execution search against the current owners. After filling out their forms and enering my credit card info, I got a call from them telling me they needed to confirm I was willing to pay the total amount before proceeding. They quoted me the amount of 35$ per search, 2 titles, 2 writs($140.00) plus the disbursement fees, which would clearly be way over $50.00 and " sometimes as much as $200.00" per property. My contact there seemed somewhat annoyed on the phone). As they couldn't quote me a clear cost, I declined. I then went to ontariotaxsales.ca, ordered the title searches (which includes execution searches on owners) and got all of the information in 1/2 hour! No cryptic options to choose from, just ask for the title search, pay $96.00 and your done. Too easy! The only difficulty was finding the form to request a search. You need to be logged in, view a tax sale listing, click on More Information, then select Title Search from the two options. Now I just need to learn how to do it myself through Teranet or MPAC myself and be able to conclude whether a property is free or clear on my own. Any tips?

[kcu]

I used this company (http://www.bdc-canada.com/DOCUM/services/land_registry_search.htm ) several times now. You are right; you do need to know exactly what you are looking for. I guess it is because they service lawyers, at least that is how it looks. My search was in GTA. It cost me 35+19 for fees+gst. This was fairly cheep comparing to what my lawyer quoted. Also, they do only electronic searches. I tried to do a search in Northern Ontario and was told that the town was not in the system. So basically, I use them for any searches in large cities. I usually get the papers the same day.

I tried the ontariotaxsales.ca, but they only have titles searches for tax sale properties. So if I need a search for any other property, they do not do it. Also, I think they sell the same search to everyone that is why they keep the cost down.  I actually like to use their service if they have the info for the property I am searching for, but in all other cases, I have to go to http://www.bdc-canada.com/DOCUM/services/land_registry_search.htm

Why not tell these guys that we need a simpler order form and a special discount? Maybe they will do it. 

Do you know anyone else who does title searches in Ontario? (other than lawyers who charge a small fortune

[Rob]

I like the idea of a simple form for users.  I think there is an opportunity for any person who is interested in setting this up to get discount from the company they choose or develop a relationship with.

I think most people use just a property lawyer to do there search so I think a lot of members who be interested in this service because it's priced well below current market rates


Everyone currently reading this, who does your title searches?  Do you recommend them?  Any problems you've come across like wrong information?

[kcu]

I actually talked to these guys this morning. The company name is Documental Search House. When I mentioned a discount and a simple order form, I was told that they can do anything as long as there is enough interest. Also, I found out that I would qualify for a discount if I keep ordering regularly  (which is a good thing, as I already made several orders.) and I have to fill out an application form.

Another thing, there is a limit to what they can do online. They need a PIN number (property identification) to do an electronic search. Only with this number my order would qualify for the minimum fee and minimum disbursements. They do limited number of manual searches, but the cost would be similar to any lawyer, because everyone has to go through the same agent. The only difference, I guess, would be the lawyer’s fee. 

Unless someone can recommend a better service, I really have only two options, do it myself (big waste of time) or order online. I wish the government would offer a direct access to this information, but it is doubtful.

I think, if you want to see a better service or discounts or simpler forms, send e-mail or talk to these guys. I am pretty sure they would listen if they get enough inquiries.