Why You Need Title Insurance

We’ve said this before, but it’s so important that it bears repeating. You need to invest in title insurance, (even if you’re paying with cash). Ideally, when you close on a property, the title transfers from one owner to another, and everyone lives happily ever after; but that’s not always the case. That’s why title insurance is a good investment. Read on to find out what it is and why you need it.

What is Title Insurance?

It’s important to protect your home with title insurance. Specifically, title insurance protects against a financial loss related to property ownership. When you close on a piece of property, there are two types of title insurance that can be involved in the transaction. The lender has their own policy, and then you need a homeowner’s policy for yourself. The homeowner’s policy is optional, but strongly recommended.

Lenders always have title insurance on your property because they have the biggest stake in your loan. A defect in the title could cost your lender big. Lenders title insurance only protects the lender. That’s why it’s a good idea to get a policy to protect your own interest.

When you’re in the process of buying a new home, your title research company will check out the history of the property to insure it has a clear title, meaning that the current owner owns the property without any legal claims against it. Legal claims against a title could be liens or levies from creditors, lenders or the IRS.

Why Do You Need Title Insurance?

You might think that after a title search, you’re home free, but that’s where title insurance comes in handy. The title search may have uncovered a pending legal judgement or lawsuit. There could also be a previously unknown heir, a mistake in the ownership history, or another undiscovered issue that might compromise a free and clear title. If the previous owner of the property forged documents, you could wind up with a title issue.

If any of those issues arise after you close on your property, it could cause you, at minimum, some legal fees and a headache; and worst-case scenario, the loss of the property.

Title insurance is a one-time cost that you pay for at closing. Your interest in the loan increases over time as you repay your mortgage, so given the relatively low cost of title insurance, it pays to protect yourself in the future against title defects that could arise.

What Does Title Insurance Cover?

Different companies offer different coverage, so it’s important to read the fine print before purchasing. We recommend Old Republic Title policies to our clients. Their basic coverage protects against:

• Someone claiming an ownership interest in your title
• Leases, contracts or options affecting your title
• Someone claiming to have rights affecting your title due to forgery or impersonation
• Someone having a right to limit your use of the land
• Unmarketability of your title
• A defective title

They also offer expanded coverage for 32 additional risks.

Buying a home may be the biggest investment of your life, so you want to make sure you have maximum protection by purchasing title insurance.

If you still have questions about title insurance, reach out to us at 571-234-5589 or by email at [email protected]. We’d love to help!