Title Deed
Title Deed
Official document confirming ownership of real estate, recorded in the land registry. A key paper when buying: without a clean title the property will not grant status in a program.
- What it is
- An official document proving ownership of real estate
- Where it applies
- Any property purchase, including for citizenship or residence
- What it confirms
- That the property is yours and the record is in the land registry
- Why it matters
- Without clean title the property will not give status in a programme
- Can you prepare
- Yes: check the title and land registry before the deal
In plain words
A title deed is the official document confirming your ownership of real estate, together with the corresponding entry in the state land registry. It is what makes you the lawful owner: without clean title in your name you are not regarded as the owner, whatever the contract says.
In citizenship and residence by investment programmes the title plays a double role. First, it proves that the real estate investment has actually been registered to you — without it, status will not be granted. Second, the “cleanness” of the title (no encumbrances, mortgages, disputes or third-party rights) protects you from buying a property with problems.
That is why the key step when buying is to check the title and the land registry before the deal: who the real owner is, whether there are any mortgages or disputes, whether the property matches the documents. The deal goes through escrow, on condition that the money goes to the seller only after your ownership is registered in the land registry.
Where the title matters
What is checked in the title
- Who it is on paper
- Whether it matches the seller
- Authority to sell
- No mortgages
- No encumbrances
- No court disputes
- Consistency with the documents
- The land registry entry
- Boundaries and area
- Escrow
- Registration to the buyer
- Money after registration
How to register ownership safely
- 01Checking the title and land registry
- 02Checking encumbrances and disputes
- 03A transaction through escrow
- 04Registering ownership to you
- 05Title in your name
What you need to know
- The title confirms ownership and the land registry entry
- Without clean title in your name you are not the owner
- In programmes it proves that the investment has been registered
- A clean title protects against a property with problems
- The check is done before the deal
Common mistakes
- Buying a property without checking the title and land registry
- Not checking encumbrances and court disputes
- Relying on the contract without registration of ownership
- Sending money before registration to you
- Not checking the seller against the real owner
What this means for a BRIDGES client
BRIDGES GLOBAL checks the title and the land registry before the deal: the real owner, the absence of encumbrances and disputes, the property’s consistency with the documents. We run the deal through escrow, so that ownership is registered to you and the money reaches the seller only after registration.
Frequently asked questions
01 /What is a title deed?
The official document proving ownership of real estate, together with the land registry entry. It is what makes you the lawful owner of the property.
02 /Why check the title?
To make sure the seller is the real owner and the property is free of mortgages, encumbrances and disputes. Otherwise you may buy a property with problems.
03 /Why does the title matter for the programme?
It proves that the real estate investment has actually been registered to you. Without clean title, status in the programme will not be granted.
04 /When does the money go to the seller?
Through escrow — only after your ownership has been registered in the land registry. That way you are never left without both the money and the property.
05 /What is an encumbrance?
A mortgage, a seizure, a third-party right or some other burden on the property. Encumbrances must be identified before the deal, otherwise they pass along with the property.
06 /Can the property be sold later?
Yes, with a clean title. Programmes have a mandatory holding period (usually 3-7 years), after which the property can be sold.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Buying property abroad?
We will check the title and land registry before the deal and run it through escrow — so that ownership is registered to you safely.