What typically shows up on title
Delinquent property taxes. Mortgage and home-equity balances. Judgment liens from creditors. Mechanic's or contractor's liens. Municipal code or utility liens. HOA assessments. Unreleased older mortgages. Probate and heirship questions, or a missing signature from someone who should have signed years ago.
A title search brings these to the surface, which is why closings involve one. Finding something is normal, not a sign the sale is over.
How they are handled
Most monetary liens are paid from sale proceeds through the closing agent, with a settlement statement showing each payoff. Some require a release or a correction that takes time. Others require an attorney, and a few cannot be resolved without money the sale does not produce.
We are not able to promise that any particular lien can be cleared. If total payoffs exceed what the property supports, a purchase may not be feasible, and we will say that plainly instead of leaving you waiting.
What to tell us upfront
Anything you already know: rough balances, notices you have received, unpermitted work, or a name on the deed that should not be there. Early information makes the review realistic. You are not expected to have researched title yourself.