A Deed is the formal legal document signed and recorded in county land records to transfer ownership title of real estate from a Grantor (Seller) to a Grantee (Buyer). The type of deed used determines the level of legal protection and warranty granted to the buyer:
1. General Warranty Deed (Highest Buyer Protection): Used in almost all traditional residential home sales. The Grantor legally warrants and defends that the property title is free and clear of undisclosed liens or defects across the entire history of the property (even defects originating before the Grantor owned it). 2. Special (Limited) Warranty Deed: Common in commercial real estate, builder sales, and bank REO foreclosures. The Grantor only warrants that no title defects occurred during the specific period the Grantor held title. 3. Quitclaim Deed (Zero Warranties): Transfers only whatever interest the Grantor *may* currently possess ("as-is"), with zero guarantee that the title is clean or that the Grantor even owns the property. Quitclaim deeds are used strictly between trusted parties — such as adding/removing a spouse after marriage or divorce, transferring a rental property into your own LLC, or clearing a minor cloud on title.