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In the early days of American history, when you wanted to buy property, a conveyancer handled the transaction. Part of their job was to find out if the property title was “unencumbered.” If a property is unencumbered, it means no one other than the seller has ownership rights to it, and there are no liens on it, meaning nobody else can take the property to pay a debt. But there was no guarantee or insurance that held conveyancers accountable if they were wrong.
Today’s title companies research property titles just like conveyancers did, in what’s known as a title search or abstract update. Title guarantee is provided that if a problem turns up that they didn’t find, you’re protected.

The title company is a third party that works on behalf of both the lender and the buyer. You hire them to research and ensure the title of the home you’re buying.
Why is that important? Let’s say you buy a home without hiring a title company. Later, you find out the seller inherited the home when his father died and only owns half of the home. The other half belongs to his brother, who turns up on your doorstep wanting his 50% of the property. You can imagine what an unpleasant situation that would be for everyone.

Title companies will research what is called the “chain of title”, or the full history of the home’s ownership. A search from a title company would have revealed the second owner and stopped the sale before you close on the mortgage. They also look for existing liens, so you won’t find out the hard way a contractor never received payment for past work completed on the home and is now expecting payment from you, the new owner. They’ll also make sure all property taxes are paid in full.