What Is A Special Warranty Deed?

What Is A Special Warranty Deed?

Builders, foreclosure companies, and some individuals, give a special warranty deed. Many resale Contracts, including the NVAR Contract, calls for a General Warranty Deed. So, what’s the difference?

You can think of it this way:

With a general warranty deed the Seller is confirming to the Buyer that they have the right to sell the house and everyone before them had the right as well.  With a special warranty deed, the Seller is confirming they have the right to sell the house, but they have no idea about anything before them.

Bottom line:

As long as the Buyer gets an owner’s title insurance policy it is a distinction without a practical difference, because if there is a title issue relating to a prior owner, the title policy is most likely going to cover that prior owner problem.  It has no impact on the settlement process.

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