Property Records Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the records terms you will meet in a BehindTheDeed report and in county offices. Definitions are educational and are not legal advice.
Assessor
The county office that values properties for property-tax purposes. Assessor records typically show lot size, living area, year built, and assessed value history — useful facts, but not a market appraisal.
Chain of Title
The historical sequence of ownership transfers for a property, derived from recorded deeds. Gaps or irregularities in the chain are a reason to ask a title company to examine the record before closing.
Code Violation
A recorded violation of local building, housing, or safety codes, issued by a code-enforcement office. Open violations can block permits, closings, or financing until resolved.
Deed
The legal instrument that transfers ownership of real property. Common types include warranty deeds (strongest seller guarantees) and quitclaim deeds (transfers only what the signer has, with no guarantees).
Deed of Trust
In many states, the document that secures a home loan against the property, involving a trustee who can initiate foreclosure. It appears in recorder indexes as part of a property's debt history.
Easement
A recorded right for someone else to use part of a property (for utilities, access, or drainage). Easements survive sale and can affect where you can build or landscape.
Encumbrance
Any claim or restriction on a property that limits ownership rights — liens, easements, covenants, or judgments. Some encumbrances affect title; some (like utility easements) mainly affect use.
FEMA Flood Zone
FEMA's designation of flood risk for a parcel, such as Zone AE or Zone X. Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones starting with A or V) typically trigger mandatory flood insurance for financed properties.
Final Inspection (permit)
The inspection that closes out a building permit after work is completed. A permit with no final on record is 'unfinaled' — a common red flag that work was not verified by the local building department.
Judgment Lien
A lien created when a court judgment is recorded against a property owner, allowing the creditor to claim against the property. Judgment liens generally must be satisfied before a clean title transfer.
Lis Pendens
A recorded notice that a lawsuit affecting the property's title is pending. It warns buyers that ownership may change based on the case outcome; almost always requires legal review.
Market Value
The price a property would likely fetch in a fair, informed transaction. Reports show market context and comparable sales as signals — not a certified appraisal.
Mechanic's Lien
A lien a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier can record when they were not paid for work or materials on the property. Even after release, the filing history is worth reviewing with a title company.
Parcel
A legally defined piece of land with a unique identifier (APN or parcel number) assigned by the county. Matching an address to the right parcel is a critical early step in property research.
Permit
Official approval from a building department to perform construction work. Permit histories reveal renovations, system replacements (roof, HVAC, electrical), and sometimes unpermitted-work gaps.
Quitclaim Deed
A deed that transfers whatever interest the signer has, with no warranties about the state of title. Common in divorce settlements and family transfers; it offers the buyer no protection against other claims.
Recorder (County Recorder)
The county office where deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents affecting title are officially recorded. Recorder indexes are a primary source for ownership and encumbrance history.
SFHA (Special Flood Hazard Area)
FEMA-mapped area with at least a 1% annual chance of flooding (the '100-year floodplain'). Properties with federally backed loans in SFHAs generally must carry flood insurance.
Superfund Site
A location designated by the EPA under CERCLA as requiring long-term hazardous-waste cleanup. Reports flag proximity to Superfund and other environmental databases as context for further investigation.
Tax Assessed Value
The value a tax assessor places on a property for taxing purposes. It may lag the market significantly and is not a substitute for an appraisal or market analysis.
Tax Lien
A lien imposed by a government for unpaid property taxes. Tax liens often take priority over other liens and can escalate to tax sale in some jurisdictions.
Title
The legal concept of ownership rights in a property. 'Clear title' means no competing claims — something only a formal title examination and title insurance can address.
Title Search
A formal examination of recorded documents performed by a title professional to determine ownership and encumbrances. Property intelligence reports surface title indicators but do not replace a title search.
Unpermitted Work
Construction performed without required permits. It surfaces indirectly — as gaps between known renovations and permit records — and carries risks from safety, insurance, and resale perspectives.
Zoning
Local rules governing how land can be used and what can be built (residential, commercial, density, setbacks). Zoning overlays can add restrictions beyond the base zone.
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