How do I find information on who owns a particular house?

[1988 Cherokee]

I just need to know who owns a particular house for a rent to own. I don't want to pay the cash, then be left scammed.

[WhiteOut]

You should be able to do a title search and have all the relevant info, I believe there is a small fee attached to it though.

[FiEND]

you ask them to show you the title/deed of the home.

you should also have a lawyer look over the agreement.

[cLAY]

Any Realtor can check for you. But most realtors will tell you not to do a rent to own...

[dunl]

Any Realtor can check for you. But most realtors will tell you not to do a rent to own...

....keep going.  People are going to ask why anyway..... 

[ornamental]

....keep going.  People are going to ask why anyway..... 

with rent to own,  how does a realtor make a big fat easy commision?

[01sahara]

I just need to know who owns a particular house for a rent to own. I don't want to pay the cash, then be left scammed.

Short answer to your question, is go to a registry office that has access to the Alberta Land Titles SPIN system and pull a copy of the Title. It will show you the registered owners name and what is registered against the tile.  

Long answer

I see lots of people burned regularly on rent-to-own arrangements. Many times the home is mortgaged for more than it is worth. A owner rents it out at a high market rent with the promise of ownership to the tenant. If the seller fails to keep up the mortgage then the bank gets the house and the Rent-Own tenant gets nothing. Most of the time rent-to-own works out badly for the renter.

If you are going to do this consult your own lawyer not theirs.  Make sure there is lots of equity compared to the current mortgage and that your lawyer registers the offer to purchase against the title so that the seller can’t try to up the amount of the mortgage after the agreement.

If you have a down payment then talk to ( Barman Jay ) on the web site and get him to show you some homes that you can afford. If you have bad credit talk to a mortgage broker see if you have any options. Before you buy look at lots of homes and make sure the price is fair market value.  

Why are you doing a rent-to-own and not saving for a down payment?
 
Good luck, but be very careful.  

[morerpmfred]

If the owner of the house owns the mortgage company then he is set up to do the ultimate legal scam. Registry office can also tell you who owns a particular company for about $ 15. So do that at the same time.

[1988 Cherokee]

Thanks for the information. I am aware that missed payments and higher payments are a bad part of the deal. I am going to save more for a larger down payment and go through traditional channels with family co-signers.