Deed

A legal document that transfers ownership (title) of a property

Whoever holds the deed on a home is the legal owner (or holds title). Before the closing date, however, the lender requires a title search to prove that the seller really owns the property you’re about to buy. You receive the original deed in the mail after it’s recorded at the county courthouse. You need to make sure this happens since it’s proof that you own the home. A grant deed is the most common type of deed used to transfer title.

See: Grant deed, Quitclaim deed