A property search is a process of examining public records to determine a property’s legal ownership and any claims or liens on it. The search is typically ordered during escrow when a lender financing a home purchase requests a preliminary report from a title company. However, a search can be done anytime, by anyone, such as a buyer or a homeowner who’s looking to refinance their home. The search uses many sources, including tax liens, land records, court judgments, and deeds.