What You Need to Know About Title Insurance
What is title insurance?
Title insurance is your
safeguard. It is a
requirement of all real estate lenders. It is information on the status
of title to the property and protection against adverse claims.
Why do I need title insurance?
When you purchase your home,
you want it to be free of debt or obligations not created by you. Title insurance protects you, the
buyer, against loss from past claims or disputes over ownership of
property. Public records are searched for records, such as liens,
judgments and easements, that affect the property.
What is the cost?
The title insurance premium is
paid only once. The cost depends on the value of your property.
What if I have a problem?
If there is a dispute or claim made against your title as insured, the title insurance covers legal expenses for defending your title and the cost of settling the claim.
What are some common title problems?
A title policy covers the
following common title problems:
- Fraud and forgery
- Lack of a legal right of access
- Undisclosed or missing heirs
- Errors: deed or legal documents not properly recorded
- Undisclosed, but recorded, prior mortgage or lien
- Invalid Deeds:
transfer by former seller who did not actually own the property, or by
former owner not mentally competent
Are there different types of title insurance policies?
There are two basic types of
policies: the Owner's Policy and the Lender's Policy. The Owner's Policy protects the
interest of the property owner and the Lender's Policy protects the
interest of the lender or mortgagee. The Owner's Policy is issued
in the amount of the purchase price and insures the title to the
property as long as you or your heirs own the property. A Lender's
Policy insures the lender in the amount of the loan.
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