Title insurer: Title insurance is a form of indemnity insurance that protects lenders and homebuyers from financial loss sustained from defects in a title to a property. The most common type of title insurance is lender’s title insurance, which the borrower purchases to protect the lender. The other type is owner’s title insurance, which is often paid for by the seller to protect the buyer’s equity in the property.
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Title insurer
KEY
- Title insurance protects lenders and buyers from financial loss due to defects in a title to a property.
- The most common claims filed against a title are back taxes, liens, and conflicting wills.
- A one-time fee paid for title insurance covers pricey administrative fees for deep searches of title data to protect against claims for past occurrences.
- Any real estate transactions must have a clear title to ensure that the property is free from liens.
- A title insurance policy will cover numerous risks like flawed records, incorrect ownership, and falsified documents.
Title insurer
Understanding Title Insurance
A clear title is necessary for any real estate transaction. Title companies must do a search on every title to check for claims or liens of any kind against them before they can be issued.
A title search is an examination of public records to determine and confirm a property’s legal ownership and determine whether there are any claims on the property. Erroneous surveys and unresolved building code violations are two examples of blemishes that can make the title “dirty.”
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Title insurance protects both lenders and homebuyers against loss or damage occurring from liens, encumbrances, or defects in a property’s title or actual ownership. Common claims filed against a title are back taxes, liens (from mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), easements), and conflicting wills. Unlike traditional insurance, which protects against future events, title insurance protects against claims for past occurrences.
A basic owner’s title insurance policy typically covers the following hazards
- Ownership by another party
- Incorrect signatures on documents, in addition to forgery and fraud
- Flawed records
- Restrictive covenants (terms that reduce value or enjoyment), such as unrecorded easements
- Encumbrances or judgments against property, such as outstanding lawsuits and liens
Title insurer
Why should I buy title insurance?
Having no title insurance exposes transacting parties to significant risk in the event that a title defect is present. Consider a homebuyer searching for the house of their dreams only to find, after closing, unpaid property taxes from the prior owner. Without title insurance, the financial burden of this claim for back taxes rests solely with the buyer. With title insurance, the coverage protects the buyer for as long as they own—or have an interest in—the property. Similarly, the lender’s title insurance covers banks and other mortgage lenders from unrecorded liens, unrecorded access rights, and other defects.
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What are the types of title insurance?
There are two types of title insurance: lender’s title insurance and owner’s title insurance (including extended policies). Almost all lenders require the borrower to purchase a lender’s title insurance policy to protect the lender in the event that the seller was not legally able to transfer the title of ownership rights. A lender’s policy only protects the lender against loss.
Since title searches are not infallible and the owner remains at risk of financial loss, there is a need for additional protection in the form of an owner’s title insurance policy. Owner’s title insurance, often purchased by the seller to protect the buyer against defects in the title, is optional.
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Title insurer
Purchasing Title Insurance
An escrow or closing agent initiates the insurance process upon completion of the property purchase agreement. There are four major U.S. title insurance underwriters: Fidelity National Financial Inc., First American Title Insurance Co., Old Republic National Title Insurance Co., and Stewart Title Guaranty Co. There are also regional title insurance companies from which to choose.
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The cost of owner’s title insurance ranges from $500 to $3,500, depending on the state where you live, the insurance provider you choose, and the purchase price of your home.
Often, a lender’s policy and an owner’s policy are required together to guarantee that everyone is adequately protected. At closing, the parties purchase title insurance for a one-time fee. The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) prohibits sellers from requiring purchase from a specific title insurance carrier to prevent abuse.