FAQs

What is Title?

A title is your ownership right to your property.

What is Title Insurance?

For home buyers, it is an insurance policy protecting against losses due to defects in the title that existed prior to the purchase of the property. An Owner’s Title Insurance Policy protects the homeowner’s interest in the property from future legal claims for as long as they own the home. If a valid claim is made against a homeowner’s title as covered by their policy, the title insurer protects the homeowner by bearing the cost of settling the claim.

For lenders, a Lender’s Title Policy protects the lender’s financial interest in the property. The buyer (or borrower in the case of a refinance) typically pays for this policy, but this varies depending on geography.

What is a Title Search?

A title search is a detailed examination of the historical records concerning a property including deeds, court records, property and name indexes, and many other documents. A Title Search is used to verify the seller's right to transfer ownership, and to discover any claims, defects and other rights or encumbrances on the property.

What does Title Insurance cost?

The one-time payment for Owner’s Title Insurance is low relative to the value of your home. The typical owner’s title insurance policy costs around 0.5% of the home’s purchase price.