Never Trust a Photocopy.

Anyone can Photoshop a land title. Before you bid on a property (especially outside of bank auctions), you must get a CTC (Certified True Copy).

Where to Get It

Go to the Registry of Deeds (RD) where the property is located. Give them the Title Number. Pay a small fee. They will print the actual records from their vault.

• If it has a mortgage annotation: It will show up here.
• If it is clean: It will say “No Encumbrances.”