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What Is Title Insurance And Why You Should Invest In It

August 23, 2024

An indemnity or title insurance shields purchasers and lenders against monetary loss caused by property title flaws. Borrowers often choose to protect their lenders by purchasing lender's title insurance, the most prevalent insurance. The seller may also pay for the owner's title insurance to ensure the property's equity.

Any real estate deal must have a free and clear title. Innovative title service companies must search all titles to ensure no claims or liens are present. A title search aims to ascertain the legal ownership of a piece of property and identify any claims against it by reviewing public documents. 

Mortgage lenders and purchasers alike may rest easy knowing that title insurance will cover any financial losses due to problems with the property's legal ownership or ownership documentation. Back taxes, liens (from mortgages, HELOCs, easements, etc.) and competing wills are common claims that might be lodged against a property's title. Title insurance safeguards against claims for past events, unlike ordinary insurance, which protects against future occurrences.

Most standard owner's title insurance policies will protect against the following risks:

  • Third-party ownership
  • Document forgeries, fraud, and incorrect signatures
  • Records with errors
  • Unrecorded easements and other restrictive covenants (terms that lower value or pleasure)
  • Liens, unpaid court judgments, and other forms of encumbrance on real estate

Types of Title Insurance

There are two types: owner's title insurance vs lender's title insurance. 

Title insurance for lenders

Buyers and refinancing borrowers are obligated to purchase lender's title insurance policies. It protects the lender even if you're the one footing the bill. It usually amounts to about 0.5 percent of the home's selling price.

Lenders have title insurance to protect their financial interest and the mortgage if a third party files a claim on your property after closing. At the same time, a lender's title insurance might be useful as the mortgage owner.

For example, after a year of owning the house, the seller's ex-spouse contacts you. They assert that the seller acted unlawfully by selling the house without their knowledge or consent and that they were unaware of this. Ultimately, the ex-spouse wins the battle for possession of your home.

Your house has been "lost" rather than "sold" in this case. You're in a jam if you can't pay the mortgage. If the lender incurs a loss, their title insurance will pay for it. Should you have owner's title insurance, it would also come into play to compensate for your equity loss, legal costs, and relocating expenses.

Title Insurance for Owner

When you buy a house, you may protect your stake in the property for the duration of your ownership by purchasing owner's title insurance. The estimated cost of coverage is around 0.5% of the purchase price.

To sum up, there are several situations in which owner's title insurance might be a good idea. What it's capable of:

  • Protect your property against unseen claims, like contractor's liens, that might cost you a pretty penny.
  • Stay one step ahead of a claim that might cause you to lose your house
  • See to your legal expenses
  • If the claim leads to the loss of your house, be sure to cover your financial losses.

The following scenarios could result in a payout from the owner's title insurance: Suppose a lady just received the family house as an inheritance from her father, and you decide to buy it from her. The woman's sister, who was also a rightful owner but refused to approve the transaction, was discovered one month after the closing.

You went through the motions of a title search before purchasing the property, but it still needs to be registered, so the title service company was unaware that there was another heir. An innovative title services company would cover the costs to assist you in maintaining your house and defending yourself against the concealed heir. Title insurance will compensate you for a loss but does not guarantee victory.

Drawbacks of Skipping Title Insurance

When participants in a transaction do not have title insurance, they put themselves and their assets at serious risk in the case of a title problem. Picture this: a homebuyer has found the perfect house, but as the closing day rolls around, they discover that the previous owner still needs to pay the property taxes. Without title insurance, the purchaser is liable for any amount claimed for unpaid taxes. They have two options: pay the back taxes or let the taxing body take their house.

Similarly, title insurance protects the buyer for as long as they own or have a stake in the property. For mortgage lenders and banks, lender's title insurance protects against faults such as unrecorded liens and access rights. If the borrower defaults on the loan and problems arise with the property's title, the lender might lose as much as the mortgage balance.

Real estate investors should always check a property's title to make sure it is without any liens or other issues. For instance, a foreclosure home can have many unresolved problems. To safeguard themselves against unanticipated claims against the title, buyers can consider getting owner's title insurance.

Getting Title Insurance

Upon the conclusion of the property purchase agreement, the insurance procedure is initiated by an escrow or closing agency. Your home's purchase price, services provided by an innovative title services company, and state all affect the exact amount of owner's title insurance you'll need. It's common to require the lender's and owner's policies for everyone's peace of mind. When the deal closes, buyers and sellers pay a single premium for title insurance. According to RESPA, sellers cannot insist that buyers get title insurance from a particular company. Although most would recommend Ticor Title in San Diego.

Homeowners Insurance vs. Title Insurance

Title insurance is insurance against ownership disputes and secured obligations unconnected to the present owner's or lender's conduct. It protects the rights of the property owner and the mortgage lender. Put simply, it protects the policyholder against unforeseen occurrences that may produce issues down the road. Paying a single, upfront cost will protect both the owner and the lender until the loan is fully repaid, which often happens via refinancing.

In case of a covered peril, such as a fire or theft, homeowners insurance protects the homebuyer's and mortgage lender's financial interests. Because coverage is predicated on future occurrences that are impossible to forecast at the property level, premiums are required yearly for the duration of your policy.

Because of its restrictions and exclusions, neither insurance covers every conceivable problem. For instance, in the event of a flood, your homeowner's insurance might not pay out, and if you have a tax lien on your property, your title insurance might not pay out either.

Bottom Line

When participants in a transaction do not have title insurance, they put themselves and their assets at serious risk in the case of a title problem. Picture this: a homebuyer has found the perfect house, but as the closing day rolls around, they discover that the previous owner still needs to pay the property taxes. The purchaser is liable for any amount claimed for unpaid taxes without title insurance. The policyholder is covered by title insurance for their ownership or interest in the property. Lenders' title insurance protects mortgage lenders and banks against faults such as unregistered liens and access rights.

To make the house-buying process easy with innovative title services, contact Ryan Lipsey Team from Ticor Title and book a consultation! 

FAQs

Do you need a title company when buying a house?

Working with an innovative title services company is usually necessary when securing a mortgage. You are not legally required to have a professional title search done if you are paying cash for a property. While it is possible to do your search of public records, going it alone eliminates the benefits of a title company's resources and knowledge in handling title searches and any issues that may arise. Additionally, owner's title insurance, which covers matters not discovered during a title search, will not be available.

Who hires the title company in real estate?

In a real estate transaction, the buyer or the lender chooses the title company. Ticor Title in San Diego is selected by either the lender or the homeowner in a refinancing transaction. 

What are the paperwork requirements while closing?

You will be given all the necessary paperwork to sign at closing by the closing title insurance attorney, who is usually an employee of a title or escrow business. This paperwork is required to close on your mortgage and transfer property ownership. You must read and sign several disclosures on hazards like lead paint and floods, the mortgage note or deed that uses your house as security, and the promissory note in which you promise to repay the loan.

RYAN LIPSEY TEAM

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