What’s the difference between a warranty deed and a quitclaim deed?

The deed type controls what the grantor promises about the title. A general warranty deed gives the strongest assurances: the seller warrants they own the property, have the right to convey it, and will defend the buyer against title claims arising any time in the property’s history. It’s the norm in arm’s-length sales. A special (or limited) warranty deed warrants only against claims that arose during the seller’s own ownership, common with banks, builders, and estates. A quitclaim deed makes no warranties at all. It simply releases whatever interest, if any, the grantor has, and it’s used to transfer between family members or entities, add or remove a spouse, or clear up a cloud on title, not to buy a home. Whatever the deed type, an owner’s title insurance policy is what actually protects your ownership going forward.