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Rainmaker
3,340,443
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

The title company has to be sure that each person is who they say they are...in the case of my own name...there were 5 people with my name in a 1- mile radius.

Oct 08, 2015 09:23 PM
Rainmaker
175,614
Spirit Messingham
Tierra Antigua Realty - Tucson, AZ
Third Generation Full-Time Realtor® 520 471-6900

Why wouldnt they?   Buying and selling a house has a lot of implications for personal and tax purposes.   I would suggest you go to your local title company and ask them what they do, I suspect it is more than you realize.  Here in the state of Arizona title must be involved in all residential real estate transactions.

Oct 09, 2015 12:36 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,225
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I'll coat tail on Sally K. & David L. Hanson's answer: They are checking on any outstanding liens or judgments too; ie. unreported child support, etc. It's basically a form of a background check to verify they are who they say they are and can do what they say they can do: close escrow legitimately.

Oct 08, 2015 10:41 PM
Ambassador
6,392,879
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

So that the govt can track your major purchases.

Oct 20, 2018 10:31 PM
Rainmaker
763,783
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

It seems to make sense to me.  The property APN and SSN are both unique to either the propery or person.

Oct 09, 2015 05:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It would be difficult to always impement this rule, especially for buyers who do not have a SSN, such as most foreigners.

Oct 08, 2015 11:03 PM
Rainer
61,641
Renee Paray
Coldwell Banker Realty - Blue Bell, PA
REALTOR

To check the identity of people and any aliases they have gone by. It is also to check to see if they have any outstanding child support payments, leins, etc...

Oct 08, 2015 10:51 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

The others have answered the question.

Oct 08, 2015 10:42 PM