Title explained
In Canada, property ownership is recorded through provincial land registration systems. Title shows the registered owners and the order of any charges against the property. Your mortgage is one such charge: it gives the lender a registered interest in the home as security until you pay off the loan. Other entries can include property tax arrears, construction liens, or rights-of-way.
Before a purchase closes, a lawyer or notary searches title to confirm the seller has clear ownership and to identify any registered claims that must be dealt with. Buyers often obtain title insurance to protect against problems such as fraud, survey errors, or undisclosed liens that a search might not catch.