18/02/2026
Why You Must Ask for the Latest CTC Before Paying for Any Property
Before you release reservation fee, down payment, or full payment, there’s one simple but powerful document you should always request:
👉 The Latest Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Title
If you skip this step, you’re taking a risk with your money.
Why the Latest CTC Matters
Old copies can hide serious problems.
Here’s why you must request the latest version:
1️⃣ To Check If the Title Is Still Clean
A recent CTC shows if the property has:
• Mortgage
• Lis pendens (legal dispute)
• Encumbrances
• Adverse claims
If the seller shows you a CTC from 2–3 years ago, that’s not enough. A lot can change in months.
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2️⃣ To Avoid Double Selling
Some sellers sell the same property to multiple buyers.
The latest CTC helps verify:
• Current registered owner
• Latest annotations
• Recent transactions
No latest CTC? That’s a red flag.
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3️⃣ To Protect Your Down Payment
Once you release money, it becomes harder to recover if something goes wrong.
Smart buyers verify FIRST.
Pay LATER.
📌 When Should You Ask for It?
✔ Before paying reservation (for resale properties)
✔ Before signing Deed of Sale
✔ Before full payment
✔ Before loan processing
Make it a standard rule.
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🧠 Pro Tip
A serious seller will not hesitate to provide a latest CTC.
If they:
• Make excuses
• Delay too much
• Refuse to request one
That’s your signal to slow down.
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The cost of a CTC is small.
The cost of not checking?
That can be millions.
Always ask for the latest CTC before paying for any property.