Title Talk | Municipal Lien Searches

DEAR AGENTS AND VALUES CUSTOMERS

In an ideal world, closing on your home would be as simple as signing on the dotted line, but in reality there is a lot to navigate in order to ensure a smooth settlement. This month’s newsletter offers some top tips for making the closing process swift and seamless for both buyers and sellers.

Sincerely, Laura Bowers, Managing Director

Municipal Lien Searches Provided by MSC Title

FAST FACTS

• Title insurance does not insure against municipal liens nor open/expired permits, hence the importance of having a lien search performed.

• Under the As-is contract, the seller is not responsible to close out any permits or pull permits for unpermitted work but must only cooperate by supplying any information they have about an open, expired or unpermitted work.

• Under the FAR-BAR contract, the seller is obligated to close out open or expired permits and pull permits and address any unpermitted work up to the permit limit amount stated under lines 148-150. However, the buyer must make an objection in writing to anything found in the lien search within the inspection period.

• Lien searches can take up to 10 business days from the date they are ordered by the closing agent.

• The party paying for the owner’s policy is responsible for paying for the lien search (under both the FAR-BAR and As-is contracts).

• Lien searches typically cost from $95 to $300 per parcel, depending on the municipality.

• Since the buyer must object to anything found in the lien search within the inspection period, it’s important that the inspection period be at least 15 days to provide sufficient time to get the lien search in and reviewed before the inspection period expires.

• Sarasota County recently changed its website, and we can no longer see open or expired permits, only permitted work that was closed out. Additionally, the county now requires up to 10 business days to provide information to the lien search companies and charges $125 for this information.

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Municipal Lien Searches Provided by MSC Title

PERMIT SEARCH WEBSITES/CONTACTS

https://bsaonline.com/?uid=2580&sitetransition=true

Town of Longboat Key Permitting ................................................................................................................................................................................ (goes back to 1992 online)

Call 941.708.6130, ext. 25

Call 941.708.5833 or e-mail: buildingdept@holmesbeachfl.org .......................................

https://npor-egov.aspgov.com/Click2GovBP/index.html

https://cityofbradenton.com/permitting .....................................................................................

City of Anna Maria Permitting

City of Holmes Beach Permitting

City of North Port Permitting

City of Bradenton Permitting

Sarasota County Permitting ................................................................................................................................................................................ (2002?)

https://building.scgov.net/PublicPortal/Sarasota/SearchPermits.jsp

https://ftgportal.sarasotafl.gov/Permits/Search.aspx?microapp=c

https://accelaaca.leegov.com/aca/ ...................................................................................................

City of Sarasota Permitting

Lee County Permitting

Charlotte County Permitting ................................................................................................................................................................................ (1979?)

https://aca-prod.accela.com/BOCC/Default.aspx

https://desotocountyfl-energovpub.tylerhost.net/Apps/SelfService#/search Desoto County Permitting

Call 941.721.2166 ..........................................................................................................................................

City of Palmetto

Manatee County ................................................................................................................................................................................ (2018 to present)

https://aca-prod.accela.com/MANATEE/Default.aspx