What could be a consequence of not recording a deed in the county courthouse?

Not recording a deed in the county courthouse primarily affects the enforceability of that deed against third parties. When a deed is not recorded, it means that there is no public record of the transaction, which can create several issues regarding ownership rights.

Unrecorded deeds may lead to situations where subsequent buyers or creditors are unaware of the prior transaction. This lack of notice can result in other parties having legal claims or rights to the property that may override unrecorded interests. Therefore, if someone were to buy or place a lien on the property without knowledge of the unrecorded deed, they would have priority over the rights of the original grantee whose deed was not recorded.

In this scenario, the correct answer highlights the necessity of recording a deed to protect ownership rights and ensure that they are enforceable against third parties who may have interests in the property later. This protection is fundamental in real estate transactions to maintain clear and defensible property titles.