Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Re: What is the proper proceedure for a bringdown search on property ?

A "bringdown" is an examination of land and judgment records to determine if there are any claims against the property. The best way to get this is by ordering title insurance. Unless you are a professional who regularly examines title, you would not be able to do this on your own. Even if you are familiar with examining title, you would be better off with title insurance, which protects you against claims that come up after you buy the property. A proper title search will also let you find out if there are restrictions against using the property that may conflict with your intended use.

When purchasing property at Sheriff's Sale, you probably should also be represented by an attorney who has experience with such transactions. Your attorney would provide you with additional advice, since title insurance companies may not fully insure Sheriff's Sale purchases.