How Municipal Lien Searches Affect New York Property
Municipal Lien Searches are detailed reports highlighting open or expired permits, property taxes, utility balances or liens, special assessments, or code violations that affect the property. A Municipal Lien Search is crucial for new property owners, title agents, and real estate attorneys because it will show information not found in public record searches. While your contract may not require a Municipal Lien Search, the rules vary by state. In New York, you will need confirmation of any utility balances, special assessments, or potential liens on the property before completing the sale.

Your real estate agent or attorney will complete a Municipal Lien Search with a third-party company like ABC Company. They will often work with these private companies to limit or remove exceptions on the title policy. Each search is time-extensive and hiring an experienced company to conduct due diligence helps the agent or attorney focus more on their operations and customer service.

Are you ready to conduct a Municipal Lien Search? Empire wants you to feel confident in your closing. Contact us today at (631) 414-7600 to learn more about our real estate services or place an order.