GILLESPIE, IL – December 2025 – Title Search Direct, a nationwide provider of residential property title searches, announced new guidance and tools to help brokers, lenders, and underwriters spot red flags in loan files before closing.
Title Search Direct uses an updated approach that focuses on land records and public documents to validate borrower stories, uncover hidden risks, and support stronger fraud prevention across the mortgage industry. Their reports are always accurate, comprehensive, and backed by decades of experience.
Title Search Direct responds to growing concern over residential mortgage fraud
Rising fraud in residential lending has increased pressure on brokers and lenders to verify every detail behind a deal. Title Search Direct now emphasizes targeted risk checks inside each search, connecting property histories with the narratives presented in loan applications. The goal is to give credit decision makers a clearer view of ownership, liens, and recorded activity before they commit capital.
A missed red flag can follow a loan for years.
“Lenders want more than a clean-looking file,” said a spokesperson for Title Search Direct. “They want evidence from the public record that the deal story actually makes sense. Our work is to provide that evidence in a way that is clear, fast, and usable.”
Public records play a central role in validating borrower stories
Title Search Direct’s researchers pull deeds, mortgages, assignments, tax records, and related documents from county land records offices across the country. By comparing those records against the proposed transaction, lenders can see if the collateral, ownership chain, and encumbrances align with what borrowers and brokers describe.
Inconsistent dates, unexpected transfers, or missing releases may indicate issues that warrant deeper review. That information helps brokers and underwriters decide whether to request more documentation, adjust deal terms, or decline a transaction outright.
Major red flags Title Search Direct helps lenders identify in title searches
To support brokers, private lenders, and correspondent partners, Title Search Direct focuses each report on issues that frequently derail transactions or signal higher risk. Common red flags include:
Unreleased mortgages or liens that conflict with the proposed loan
Recent transfers at unusual prices or between related parties
Breaks or gaps in the recorded chain of title
Recorded judgments, tax liens, or HOA claims tied to the property
Documents that contradict stated borrower timelines or investment plans
Every file tells a story; the records need to match it.
Lenders gain a scalable tool for risk review in busy markets
Title Search Direct works nationwide and supports lenders who manage large pipelines and multi-state portfolios.
Reports are delivered digitally, structured so that underwriting teams can scan for issues quickly and attach documentation to their existing workflows. Turnaround times typically range from one to two business days for refinance transactions and two business days for purchase files in metro counties.
By standardizing how public records are reviewed and presented, Title Search Direct helps brokers and lenders apply the same level of scrutiny to each file, regardless of market or property age.
That consistency supports stronger loan quality and more confident decision-making.
About Title Search Direct
Title Search Direct is a nationwide provider of residential property title searches founded in 1993. The company specializes in manual research of county land records to document ownership, liens, encumbrances, and other factors that affect real estate transactions.
They've been helping buyers avoid real estate risks since the beginning.
Title Search Direct serves investors, lenders, title companies, attorneys, and homeowners across all 50 states.
