Mark,

The use of a title company is highly recommended, even for a lot. Unless there is a title search done on the property there is a clear title. For the money it will cost for the service, it will be worth knowing you are not embracing the debt of someone else.

Good luck,

As a realtor, I would never purchase any property without getting title work done. You can have an attorney do your closing or you could use a title company. The title company may be less expensive. Otherwise you will may inherit title issues and it will be your expense and much more expensive to get the legal work done to clear the title when you choose to sell.

To get clear title you must have a title company do the closing.

The Deed is the only document that must be recorded.

You should definitely use a title company or an attorney to close any real estate deal. You could stand there on the lot and give the cash to the "owner," but how do you know for sure that this person is the owner, the only owner (rather than a group of people) , and that this owner has not borrowed against the property or otherwise legally encumbered the property. You use a title company to gain clear title to the property. You should also receive title insurance as a guarantee that the title is clear and can legally be sold to you. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish, as the well-know Ben Franklin advice states. Go to a title company or attorney. You can shop around for the best pricing. The costs do vary a bit. Good luck.