A title search is a review of public records to confirm who legally owns a property and whether any claims, liens, or legal issues are attached to it. Every home purchase in Spokane, WA requires a title search before closing. Here is exactly what it covers and why it matters.
Who Conducts a Title Search in Spokane, WA
In Spokane County, title searches are conducted by licensed title companies or title abstractors using official public records. The Spokane County Auditor's Office Recording Department is the official repository for all recorded real property documents in the county, including deeds, liens, mortgages, easements, and surveys.
- Address: Spokane County Courthouse, 1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260
- Phone: 509-477-3698
- Online index: recording.spokanecounty.org
- The index is searchable online but document images require in-person or formal request due to sensitive personal information
What a Title Search Uncovers in Spokane County
A title search reviews the complete history of ownership and legal claims on a Spokane property. Specifically it uncovers:
- Ownership history: Every transfer of ownership recorded with the Spokane County Auditor since the property was first deeded
- Liens: Outstanding debts attached to the property, including unpaid property taxes, contractor liens, HOA liens, and IRS federal tax liens
- Mortgages: Existing loans or deeds of trust recorded against the property that must be paid off before clear title can transfer
- Easements: Legal rights that allow another party to use a portion of the property, such as utility easements or shared driveway agreements
- Encroachments: Structures that cross property boundary lines, which can create disputes or affect the property's value
- Judgments: Court-ordered financial claims recorded against the property owner that attach to the real estate
- Errors in prior deeds: Mistakes in legal descriptions or prior conveyances that could cloud ownership
A Real Spokane Example
A buyer makes an offer on a home in North Spokane near Francis Avenue. The purchase price is $310,000. During the title search, the Spokane County Auditor's records reveal an unresolved contractor lien for $8,500 from a roof replacement completed three years earlier. The seller must clear that lien before closing. Without the title search, the buyer would have inherited that debt the moment the deed recorded.
Title Insurance Protects Spokane Buyers After Closing
A title search reduces risk but does not eliminate it entirely. Errors in public records or claims not visible in the official index can surface after closing. Title insurance protects against this.
- Lender's title insurance: Required by most Spokane mortgage lenders. Protects the lender only.
- Owner's title insurance: Protects the buyer for as long as they own the property. Paid once at closing. Cost is approximately 0.5 to 1 percent of the purchase price in Spokane County.
On a $400,000 Spokane home, owner's title insurance costs approximately $2,000 to $4,000 at closing, according to Spokane County Title data.
Emiley and Zech Help Spokane Buyers Understand Every Step of Closing
Title searches are one of several steps Emiley and Zech walk every Spokane buyer through before closing day. Whether you are buying your first home in Spokane Valley, a probate property in North Spokane, or a condo near Kendall Yards, understanding what a title search uncovers protects your investment from day one.
Reach out to Rios and Co Real Estate before you make an offer.
