How do I make a private land purchase in Ontario, Canada without getting ripped off?

Question

I don't want to end up buying something with a lien on it, and to make sure that I am actually buying the property that I am told I am paying for.

Answer 1

Make sure YOUR attorney closes the deal for you.

Answer 2

.    The COunty Assessor will have the owners name.  Ask for a drivers license when you call to inquire about seeing the land.  If they say no, you just dodged a bullet. They didn't own it.

If you buy it and use a title insurance policy, there will be no liens.  Every escrow company will offer this for $600.

Answer 3

You could hire a title searcher to look it up and make sure the registered owner is the person you are dealing with and there is clear title.  

You do have to be careful, perhaps especially in rural areas or cottage country.   A couple years ago we had a situation where someone was advertising a property on e-bay.  The legal description was right, but the pictures in the ad were of our property.  Big difference as our property has a river and 3 waterfalls, the one in the legal description abutted ours, but just has trees.