any real estate transaction need title search

If you apply a loan, leave the job to lender. If you pay cash, do title searcha nd purchase a title insurance. That cover all un-normal liens.

usually you can just ask title company if there is a un-normal lien. If you really concern, you can have a real estate attorney review the title and explain all liens or clouds on the property and how to deal with them.

Some clouds are normal, like HOA, deed restriction, utilitie easment.