An Iowa deed is a document that records the transfer of a property’s title from one party (the “grantor”) to another (the “grantee”), and that acts as evidence of the grantee’s ownership. The completed form will include both parties’ information, the purchase price (if applicable), and a description of the property. Deeds are usually used to legally convey property in conjunction with a purchase agreement. However, Iowa law also allows for “deeds of trust” that are used to secure a home loan by placing the property title in the care of a trustee until the lender has been repaid.
The deed must be acknowledged by a notary public before being filed at the recording office for the county in which the property is located. In addition to the deed, the Groundwater Hazard Statement and Declaration of Value must be completed and filed with the county recorder. The Declaration of Value might not need to be submitted if the transfer is legally exempt.
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Types (4)
Deed of Trust – Puts a property title under the care of a trustee as security on a lender’s expense to a borrower.
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General Warranty Deed – Guarantees the quality of the property’s title, meaning that it is free of any claims.
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Quit Claim Deed – A deed that provides no warranty to the grantee regarding the property’s title.
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Special Warranty Deed – Unlike a general warranty deed, this deed type only warrants that there are no claims on the property relating to its current owner.
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Laws & Requirements
- Statutes: Chapter 558 – Conveyances
- Formatting: §§ 331.606B and 558.19
- Signing Requirements (§ 558.20): Notary Public
- Where to Record: County Recording Office
- Recording Fees (Iowa Land Records, §§ 331.507(2)(a), 428A.1): $7 to record the first page and $5 for each page thereafter. Payment of certain fees and transfer taxes may also be required.
- Forms:
- Declaration of Value: Discloses the property value, type of sale, classification, and assessment; must be filed with deed unless the transfer is exempt under § 428A.2 (see instructions).
- Groundwater Hazard Statement: Discloses the transferor’s knowledge of wells, waste disposal, and storage/septic tanks on the property; must be filed with deed.
- Property Disclosure Statement (§§ 558A.2 & 558A.4): This form must be completed by property sellers, attached to the Radon Fact Sheet, and given to interested buyers before executing a purchase agreement. The disclosure relays the property’s inventory, features, and condition.
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