Who is responsible for ensuring that the title is clear for buyers in Pennsylvania real estate transactions?

In Pennsylvania real estate transactions, the seller is primarily responsible for ensuring that the title is clear for buyers. This obligation is important because a clear title indicates that the seller has legal ownership of the property and that there are no outstanding liens or judgments that could affect the buyer's ownership rights.

Typically, the seller must provide a title insurance policy to the buyer, which not only reflects the status of the title but also protects against any future claims or encumbrances related to the property's title. This process often involves a title search conducted by a title company, which helps identify any issues that need to be resolved before the transaction can proceed.

While other parties such as the buyer, lender, and real estate agent play important roles in the transaction, it is fundamentally the seller’s duty to ensure that they convey a property with a marketable and clear title. This is vital for maintaining legal security and certainty for the buyer upon transferring ownership.