Video Transcript:
How do you search for a second mortgage on real estate? This is Dave at TitleSearch.Com. A title search for a second mortgage is pretty straightforward, although you have to make sure that the priority of mortgages is determined correctly. Each mortgage on a property, first mortgage, second mortgage, even a line of credit, will be referenced as a mortgage. Typically, it won't say first or second. The priority of each individual loan is is determined by, normally, the recording date, whichever is recorded first. If there was a mortgage recorded when the property was purchased and another one recorded later, the second recorded document typically would be the second mortgage. What happens when the first mortgage is then refinanced later? Well, unless a subordination agreement or some other document is recorded at the same time, then the second mortgage may jump into first position. Searching for which mortgage is actually the second versus the first is a process of first pulling the documents and then seeing which likely has priority based on recording date and other documentation in the land records. If you do have questions about searching for second mortgages on real estate titles, you can reach us at our website at title search dot com.