This land is your land. Let’s keep it that way.
The title gives the holder the right to possess, occupy, use, control, enjoy, and dispose of the land. In other words, the title conveys that it’s yours and all yours. Title insurance will protect you from possible issues or defects in the title that could arise such as forgeries or unknown heirs.
We do our due diligence before issuing a policy, but your policy will protect against any mistake, fraud, risk or defect, whether it is known or unknown.
Title insurance doesn’t involve a monthly payment. Instead, it’s a one-and-done fee that will protect you for as long as you or your heirs own the property—or for the life of the loan for any lender’s policy.
There are two types of title insurance policies: lenders and owners.
Lender’s Policy
- Required by lender if financing the home
- Covers the loan amount
- Protects the lenders property rights
- Covers what happened in the past against future claims
Owner’s Policy
- Can be purchased to protect the homeowner
- Covers the entire home value
- Protects the homeowner
- Covers what happened in the past against future claims
Download policy comparison chart
Costs & Searches
A significant percentage of the cost is spent sleuthing out issues that lurk in the property’s past.
Costs include
- Title search
- Identifying risks
- Eliminating risks that could be in a future claim
Places Searched
- The offices of the recorders or registers
- Deeds
- Clerks of courts
- Other officials
- Title plant—a database of records
Searching for
- Second or third mortgages
- Judgments
- Liens
- Special taxes and levies
- Life estates
- Easements
- Right-of-way
- Street, sewer, or special assessments
of homes have title issues
Hazards
While most problems can be located and resolved by skilled title officers, there can be hidden hazards that even the most thorough search will not reveal.
Title insurance can protect you against**:
- Defects in the title including unrecorded easements, forgeries, or other undisclosed contract issues
- Example: the city may have an easement for utilities in the exact spot where you plan to build a pool.
- Loss due to unknow encumbrances including liens, judgments, or security instruments
- Example: the last owner didn’t pay the roofer for the new roof and the roofer has a lien against the property. Guess who would inherit the bill?
- Title claims to the property
- Example: a long-lost heir comes knocking on your door.
- Lack of legal access to the property
- Example: you need to be able to get from your property to the nearest road.
- Loss if you are forced to remove structures
- Example: you may have to remove structures if they encroach on your neighbor’s property, over an easement, or building setback line.
** Coverage will vary by policy. Visit our policy comparison or reach out to your local escrow officer to learn more!
Title Insurance VS.
Homeowners insurance
Insurance
Title Insurance
| Protects | Property Title |
| Risk | Eliminates Risk |
| Covers | Events in the past |
| Cost | One time fee at close of escrow |
Insurance
Home Insurance
| Protects | Home |
| Risk | Prices Risk |
| Covers | Future Events |
| Cost | Monthly, Quarterly, or Annual Premium |