“Clean title” is a term often used to refer to a titled land with no liens or encumbrance. A lien means a charge on a property, usually to pay some debt or obligation. Encumbrance means a burden upon the land1.  Sample of annotations in the Memorandum of Encumbrance In a clean title, the Memorandum of Encumbrance (last page) is blank and has no annotations or notes (e.g., the land is not mortgaged to a bank, has no lease, and is not under litigation).  If you have a clean title, you can usually sell the land at a higher price. Suppose you are a buyer and see an annotation on the Memorandum of Encumbrance. In that case, you are notified of the risk you are entering should you buy the property despite its attendant issues.