For homestead matters, a real estate salesperson should check at Teranet Manitoba for a release of homestead rights. True or false?

• A. The real estate salesperson should ignore homestead rights.
• B. The real estate salesperson should check if a release of homestead rights is registered at Teranet Manitoba.
• C. The real estate salesperson should check only municipal records.
• D. The real estate salesperson should consult a lawyer.

Answer: (B)

When dealing with homestead matters, the key step is to verify whether any homestead rights attach to the property and, importantly, whether a release has been registered. In Manitoba, Teranet Manitoba is the official land titles registry where such encumbrances and their releases are recorded. A release of homestead rights must be registered there to clear the title. Checking Teranet Manitoba confirms that the homestead claim has been released and the title is free of that encumbrance at closing. If no release is on file, the buyer could face continued claims on title, and the matter may require obtaining a release or legal guidance. Municipal records won’t reveal the status of homestead rights, and while consulting a lawyer is prudent, the specific verification is to search Teranet Manitoba for a release.