What is the purpose of a property deed?

The purpose of a property deed is primarily to transfer ownership of real property. When a property deed is executed, it serves as a legal document that conveys the rights of ownership from the seller (grantor) to the buyer (grantee). The deed includes important information such as the names of the parties involved, a description of the property, and the signature of the grantor. This transfer is an essential step in real estate transactions, establishing the legal ownership of the property for the new owner.

While the other options may relate to property in various ways, they do not capture the central function of a property deed. Providing a history of ownership may be relevant during a property's examination or title search process, but this falls outside the deed's primary purpose. Zoning regulations pertain to land use and local government policies, not the deed itself. Additionally, a property's market value is determined by market conditions and assessments, rather than being specified in a deed, making the function unrelated to the deed's role in ownership transfer. Hence, the correct answer highlights the core function of the property deed in real estate transactions.