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FAQs of Title Insurance for Homebuyers

What is a Lender's Policy?

A lender's policy, also known as a loan policy or a mortgage policy, protects the lender against loss due to unknown title defects. It also protects the lender's interest from certain matters which may exist, but may not be known at the time of the sale. This policy only protects the lender's interest. It does not protect the purchaser. That is why a real estate purchaser needs an owner's policy.

What is an Owner's Policy?

An owner's policy protects you, the purchaser, against a loss that may occur from a fault in the ownership or interest you have in the property. You should protect the equity in your new home with a title policy.

Buying a House

What does an Owner's Policy provide?

An Owner's Policy provides protection from financial loss due to demands that may be charged against the title to your home, up to the cost of the title policy. It also covers payment of legal costs if the title insurer has to defend your title against a covered claim, and payment of successful claims against the title to your home covered by the policy, up to the cost of the policy.

Leasing a Home

Why does the seller need to provide title insurance?

Any purchaser will need evidence that his investment in your property is free of title defects. The title insurance policy that you provide the purchaser is a guarantee that you are selling a clear title to your real estate, unencumbered by any legal attachments that might limit or jeopardize ownership. It will reassure your purchaser that he or she is protected from any risks or losses and could help you close your deal.

Why does the buyer need title insurance?

Without title insurance, you may not be fully protected against errors in public records, hidden defects not disclosed by the public records, or mistakes in examination of the title. As a result, you may be held fully accountable for any prior liens, judgments, or claims brought against your new property. If this should occur, your title policy insures that you will be defended at no cost against all covered claims up to the amount of the policy.

White stairs

How much does title insurance cost?

The insurance commission approves and controls the premiums for title insurance policies. The premiums are paid only once and the cost depends upon the purchase price of the property and the policy amount must be equal to the purchase price.

What does title insurance protect from?

  • Undisclosed heirs

  • Forged deeds, mortgages, wills, releases, and other documents

  • False impersonation of the true landowner

  • Deeds by minors

  • Documents executed by a revoked or expired Power of Attorney

  • False affidavits of death or heirship

  • Probate matters

  • Fraud

  • Deeds and wills by persons of unsound mind

  • Conveyances by undisclosed divorced spouses

  • Rights of divorced parties

  • Deeds by persons falsely representing their marital status

  • Adverse possession

  • Defective acknowledgments due to improper or expired notarization

  • Forfeitures of real property due to criminal acts

  • Mistakes and omissions resulting in improper abstracting

  • Errors in tax records

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