Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

How do I make sure my title is clean before closing?

A clean title in Saskatchewan means Information Services Corporation's land registry shows no unexpected liens, judgments, easements or unpaid property tax against the property, and confirming that is one of the main jobs your real estate lawyer does before possession day, not something a seller checks alone.

Your lawyer orders a title search through Information Services Corporation early in the transaction, then again shortly before possession, to catch anything registered against the property in between, such as a new judgment or a builder's lien from unpaid renovation work. If your home carries a mortgage, the lawyer also confirms the discharge is filed so the old lender's interest comes off title at the same time the new owner's does.

Unpermitted work is a related but separate issue: it will not show up as a title problem, since the City of Saskatoon's permit records and the land registry are different systems, but it can still surface during a buyer's home inspection, typically $400 to $600, and a seller who discloses it up front avoids a last-minute renegotiation.

Budget legal fees of roughly $800 to $1,500 for this work, since a title search and discharge are part of what that fee covers, not an extra cost on top. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

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