Title Insurance for Your Peace of Mind

The biggest investment you will make in your lifetime will probably be purchasing a home. Before closing on the house, you will want to know that no individual or entity has a lien or claim to the property.

A title company does all the research to insure that a property has clear title. Making sure that a property is clear of all legal encumbrances is the job 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 performs an extensive search on the title history of the property. Through its research, the title insurance company can almost always identify any title problems and clear up these problems prior to closing.

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 cover what the title company is responsible for. Title insurance usually covers:

• 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 insurance company will defend your title and will cost you nothing.
• Defective title — This is a general term for a legal problem with the title that cannot be corrected and includes "contested title" above. Other examples of title defects include problems with legal access to the property, easements that make the property less usable, unusable, or unsaleable. Any number of other complicated problems define "Defective title." The title insurance company will uncover these title problems, or should they miss them, protect you from financial loss - up to the amount of the policy.