Factors to consider before purchasing title insurance

Factors to consider before purchasing title insurance
8 min read
18 November 2022

Introduction

If you own a home, you may have purchased title insurance. Title insurance is a form of financial protection for owners who are buying or selling real estate—it protects against any liens that may be placed on their property, including those from contractors, suppliers and laborers. The exact coverage depends on what type of policy you purchase and the amount of coverage required for your specific situation. However, there are several things to consider before purchasing title insurance:

What is title insurance?

Title insurance is a type of insurance that protects the buyer of a property against loss resulting from defects in the title to the property. It is not a form of mortgage insurance, but it is strongly recommended for all buyers.

Title insurance can be bought by anyone who wants to purchase real estate in California and throughout the United States. The type or types purchased will depend on whether you are purchasing new construction or used properties for resale purposes (newly constructed homes). You may also choose between different levels of coverage depending on your needs at any given time during your real estate transaction(s).

Does title insurance protect my interest in the property?

In addition to covering the cost of defending your interest in the property, title insurance also covers you against claims and judgments.

Title insurance protects your interest in the property by:

  • Covering costs associated with defending your title against claims, including court costs and attorney’s fees;
  • Covering costs associated with defending your title against judgments (including damages); and
  • Protecting you from liens filed on real estate that may be placed against it if there is no owner or rightful owner who is able to remove them.

Shouldn't a title search be sufficient protection?

A title search is a snapshot of the property's history, but it doesn't show you what will happen in the future. You may have purchased an investment property that has been in your family for generations and it has been passed down through several owners, but this doesn't mean that you don't need to protect yourself from future claims or fraud.

A title insurance policy protects you from any type of claim against your interest in a given piece of real estate, including but not limited to:

  • Past-due taxes due on the property;
  • HOA dues owed for common areas like swimming pools or tennis courts;
  • Unpaid rent owed by tenants who live onsite as well as those who pay rent out of pocket through third parties such as credit card companies (i.e., not directly through your bank account).

Do I need an owner's policy if I already have a lender's policy?

If you already have a lender’s policy and don’t want to pay for an owner's policy, it may not be necessary. However, if your lender's policy doesn't include coverage for the title of your home or any improvements that were made after its completion, then purchasing an owner's policy could be worth it. Hiring title insurance new jersey can prove very useful. 

For example: if there are no improvements on the property except for things such as walls and floors that were put in place prior to closing on the sale of the property (such as kitchen cabinets), then buying only a title insurance policy would likely suffice in protecting against losses from those items being damaged during construction work or other factors outside of what was covered under the original contract between buyer and seller/lender/mortgage company

Does the amount of my owner's policy increase with inflation?

As you may have noticed, the amount of your owner's policy does not increase with inflation. This means that the value of your home and its contents will remain constant. Your owner's policy is based on the value of your home, which means that it won't change in any way as long as you live there.

If you're looking for ways to save money on title insurance, consider getting a new car instead of an old one—it'll cost less than $1 million dollars (which would require $10 million dollars worth of coverage under these circumstances).

As an owner, am I protected against fraud, forgery and other illegal acts, such as impersonation of the true owner of the property?

Title insurance is a critical part of protecting against fraud, forgery and other illegal acts, such as impersonation of the true owner. In fact, there's a provision in your title insurance policy that covers this exact situation!

The best way to ensure that your property is protected against these types of risks is by using a professional company that specializes in title insurance.

As an owner, am I protected if a contractor, laborer or material supplier claims they have not been paid and files a lien on my property?

A lien is a claim filed by a contractor, laborer or material supplier to secure payment for their services on the property. If you are an owner, it is important to know that you have some protection if someone files a lien against your property. Lien rights can be transferred through various channels such as deeds or mortgages and they can be enforced in court if necessary.

When someone files a lien against your house, bank account or other valuable assets it will affect them in many ways:

  • They may get access to those assets under penalty of law (i.e., seize them until paid)
  • Your lender may deny any further loans based on the fact that there are liens against the home
  • Title insurance companies will most likely not cover these claims because they're part of what makes up "the value" of real estate so insurers want their money back ASAP (and fast!)

What happens if my spouse and I divorce or one spouse dies? What happens to our coverage in the event of a divorce or death of either of us?

What happens if my spouse and I divorce or one spouse dies?

What happens to our coverage in the event of a divorce or death of either of us?

How can title insurance help with these situations?

Title insurance can provide valuable protection for your family's assets. It covers you against loss due to any cause (including divorce), as well as legal liability claims against you. If one of your spouses dies before their policy expires, it covers their heirs until they receive notice that they will receive full payment upon expiration. If a divorce takes place after the end of the such coverage period, title insurance can help protect your rights by paying off other debts owed by one spouse against another party who may be responsible for paying them back (e.g., credit cards).

You should think about the benefits you receive when purchasing title insurance.

When you purchase title insurance, it’s important to consider the benefits you receive. Title insurance is a form of financial protection for the buyer. It protects against defects in the title, such as:

  • Fraud or forgery
  • Unrecorded restrictions on your property (such as easements)
  • Unrecorded liens on your property (such as mortgages)

Title insurance also helps protect against fraud and other illegal acts by providing an additional layer of security against losses that could result from such activities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, title insurance is a valuable investment that protects your interests in the property you own. It is also important to consider the benefits you receive when purchasing title insurance, as well as its cost. You should think about these aspects carefully before making any decision about purchasing this type of coverage

In case you have found a mistake in the text, please send a message to the author by selecting the mistake and pressing Ctrl-Enter.
Comments (0)

    No comments yet

You must be logged in to comment.

Sign In / Sign Up