A condensed history of the ownership of a property is called a/an:

• A. Property deed
• B. Chain of title
• C. Deed of trust
• D. Abstract of title

Answer: (D)

Understanding what an abstract of title is helps explain why it’s the right choice. An abstract of title is a concise summary of the property’s recorded history, showing who has owned it and what other interests or claims affect the property—such as liens, easements, judgments, or restrictions—drawn from public records. It gives a quick picture of title status to assess marketability. A property deed is the actual instrument that transfers ownership; it records a single transfer rather than the full history. A chain of title refers to the chronological sequence of owners, which is part of the history but doesn’t itself summarize all encumbrances and title issues. A deed of trust is a loan-secured instrument, not a record of ownership history. Since the question describes a condensed history of ownership, the abstract of title is the best fit.