The Top 5 Title Issues We’re Seeing This Summer (and How to Avoid Them)
Title issues don’t care how close you are to the closing table — and lately, we’ve been seeing a surge of common problems that can derail transactions in the final stretch. But with the right title partner, most of these can be resolved before they ever become a crisis.
Here are the top 5 title headaches we’re helping clients avoid right now:
1. 🛠️ Permits Left Open
Contractors, past owners, or even unpermitted DIY jobs can leave behind open permits on a property. Many times, the Seller has no idea that the permit is open, and it can surprise them when revealed on our Municipal Lien Search.
Solution: We guide sellers through resolving the issue and closing permits properly.
2. ⚖️ Undisclosed Heirs / Probate Needed
When a property is inherited, it can get messy if the estate wasn’t probated properly. We’ve seen deals stalled for weeks waiting for legal documentation or updated deeds.
Solution: We help agents and families navigate the probate process, working with local attorneys when needed to keep the transaction moving.
3. 📑 Unreleased Mortgages
Old mortgages that were paid off — but never properly released — still show up on t
itle. Without a recorded satisfaction or release, they can hold up a clean closing.
Solution: We’ll work with the original lender (or their successor) to get the proper documentation filed.
4. ⚠️ Fraudulent Sellers
As covered in our fraud blog, fraud is on the rise — especially with foreign or absentee owners. We’ve intercepted several fake listings in just the past few weeks.
Solution: We verify identity at multiple levels and process the Seller through our identity verification tools: Val-ID and Intellicheck.
5. 📄 Power of Attorney Issues
We’ve seen several deals lately where a Power of Attorney was outdated, expired, or didn’t meet Florida’s recording requirements.
Solution: We review POAs early and work with legal counsel if any updates are needed to ensure they’re valid.
🏁 Prevent These Issues Before They Start
The best way to avoid closing day chaos is to loop us in as early as possible. Even before listing a property, we’re happy to review ownership docs and even use Val-ID and Intellicheck to verify the identity of the Seller.
💡 “Think of us as a pre-inspection for your title — we’d rather find it now than scramble later.”