How to Read Your Property Deed: A Simple Guide for Homeowners
Your property deed is one of the most important documents you own. It is the official legal instrument that proves your ownership of your home. While it may look like a dense, technical document, understanding its key components is straightforward and empowering for any homeowner.
Here is a simple guide to reading and understanding your property deed.
Key Sections of a Property Deed
While the exact format can vary by state, nearly all deeds contain the following critical information.
1. The Grantor and Grantee
This is the most fundamental part of the deed.
- The Grantor is the person selling or transferring the property (the seller).
- The Grantee is the person receiving the property (the buyer).
This section should clearly list the full legal names of all parties involved in the transfer.
2. The Consideration
This clause states what was given in exchange for the property. In a typical home sale, this will be the purchase price. In a transfer between family members, it might state a nominal amount, such as “$10 and other good and valuable consideration.”
3. The Legal Description of the Property
This is not the street address. The legal description is a precise, detailed description that identifies the exact boundaries of the property. It may be written in complex terms (using “metes and bounds” or referencing a lot and block number in a subdivision plan). This section legally defines the piece of land you own.
4. The Habendum Clause
This clause typically begins with the words “To have and to hold.” It describes the rights and interests being transferred to the grantee. For most home sales, this will state that ownership is being transferred in “fee simple,” which means the new owner has complete and unrestricted ownership.
5. Signatures and Notarization
For a deed to be legally valid, it must be signed by the grantor (the seller). The signatures must also be witnessed and notarized by a notary public. The notary’s seal and signature confirm that the identity of the signers was verified.
Why DomiDocs is the Best Place for Your Deed
Understanding your deed is the first step. The second, equally crucial step is protecting it.
1. The Ultimate in Security and Protection
Your original paper deed is vulnerable to being lost, stolen, or destroyed in a fire or flood. The DomiDocs secure digital vault provides a permanent, protected home for a digital copy of this vital document. With bank-level encryption, you can be certain your proof of ownership is always safe.
2. Connect Your Deed to its Protection
A deed proves your ownership at the time of purchase, but it doesn’t protect against future fraud. DomiDocs is the only platform that allows you to store your deed and monitor the title it represents in the same place. This connects the foundational document of your ownership to its ongoing, 24/7 protection against title theft.
3. Instant Access When You Need It
When it comes time to sell your home or refinance your mortgage, you will need a copy of your deed. Instead of searching through boxes or a safe deposit box, DomiDocs gives you instant, secure access to your deed from any device, anywhere in the world.
HomeLock™ is the one Property Fraud Protection service that CAN notify you before, during, and immediately after fraud occurs. If more homeowners had HomeLock™, we wouldn’t see so many scammers like this husband and wife who have defrauded dozens of homeowners!
See how DomiDocs and HomeLock™ can protect your home in this Press Release! This layered approach protects both your legal ownership and your financial identity. For more information, read our article on how HomeLock™ can protect you from Title and Deed Fraud.