I'm trying to purchase a house from a friend how do I find out if there are liens and/or unpaid taxes on the house?

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1. Licensed in PA

   

   Marshall Chriswell

   Indiana Real Estate Attorney

   Contributor Level 10

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   Answered January 25, 2013 09:51. The best answer is you should hire an attorney to represent your interests for the closing of the sale. Only an attorney can adequately review the deeds/mortgages/tax records/liens & judgments and other documents in the chain of title and certify that you are obtaining good title to the property.
   
   If you choose not to hire an attorney the best you can do is hire a local title abstractor to do a title search, lien search and assessment search. You will then have to review the abstractor's findings.
   
   The last option is to visit the assessment office, recorder of deeds, and prothonotary's office and perform these searches for yourself.
   
   
   
   
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   Sincerely,
   
   Marshall Chriswell
   
   Law Offices of Marshall D. Chriswell
   714 Philadelphia St., Suite 200
   Indiana, PA 15701
   (888) 438-5977
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   Marshall D. Chriswell is a civil practitioner with offices in Indiana and Clearfield Counties. Mr. Chriswell's practice emphasizes Wills & Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate, and general civil disputes.
   
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2. Licensed in PA

   

   Timothy Berger

   Media Real Estate Attorney

   Contributor Level 9

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   Answered January 25, 2013 18:01. Even though you intend to purchase the house from a friend, you would be well advised to have a ewritten agreement of sale. You would be well advised to either retain or at least consult an attorney.
   
   Focusing on your specific question, you should purchase title insurance to protect your investment in case any challenges to your title arise in the future. As part of the process, the title company will do a title search, which will identify any liens or unpaid taxes.

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3. Licensed in PA

   

   Michael T MillarPro

   Toms River Real Estate Attorney

   Contributor Level 18

   

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   Answered January 27, 2013 18:59. I agree with what my colleagues have written.
   
   You would be well advised to retain the services of a real estate attorney who will negotiate the terms of a contract and order a title search for you. You should be aware that there may also be taxes due on the sale (in PA typically about 2 per cent of the purchase price and the local custom is to split it 50 50 between buyer and seller.

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