Special warranty deed
A deed where the seller only guarantees title against claims that arose during their ownership, not before. Common with banks selling foreclosures.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
It promises clear title only for the years you owned the home, not before. Banks and builders use it, and a buyer's title company may look harder at a sale that arrives on one.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
You bought from a bank on a special warranty deed in 2019. Selling now, the title company checks the years before 2019 more closely, because nobody vouched for them.
| The deed | What the seller stands behind |
|---|---|
| General warranty deed | Title all the way back |
| Special warranty deed | Only the seller's own years of ownership |
| Quitclaim deed | Nothing at all |
Special means limited. The title policy covers what the deed does not.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That special is better than general. It is narrower; the word describes the limit, not the quality.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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