Title Insurance for Your Peace of Mind

Buying a home may be the largest investment you make in your lifetime. Before you close, you'll want to know that no individual or entity has a right, claim or lien to the property.

Determining that your rights and interests to the property are clear is the business of a title company.

For a modest, one-time title insurance premium, you will receive continuous title insurance protection equal to the purchase price of the property or its current market value.

The title insurance company searches the title history of the property. Through its research, the title company can usually identify any title problems and have these problems cleared-up before you close on the property.

Real Estate law is extraordinarily complicated. Title companies make sure that all the T's are crossed and all the I's are dotted so you don't end up with a clouded title and legal problems. Your owner's policy will describe the property and outline the limitations on your ownership. It will also set forth the title insurance company's responsibilities should any claim covered by the policy terms arise. Typically your title insurance will protect you in the following cases:

• Contested title — Someone, usually a previous owner or occupant, claims they still own the property or have not given up their claim. In this case, the title company will defend the title at no expense to you.
• Defective title — "Defective title" covers any number of problems with the title to your home. It can even include a "contested title". Other examples of title defects include problems with legal access to the property, easements that make the property less usable, unusable, or unsaleable. Many other complicated problems define "Defective title" or "Clouded Title." The title insurance policy will protect you from these errors if the title company misses them.