A house is the largest purchase most people make. Title insurance is the policy that defends that purchase against claims you'd never know to look for. Bought once, kept forever.
First, the basics
When you buy a home, your right to own it depends on the chain of title — every deed, mortgage, and transfer in the property's history being legally clean. A title search reviews public records to confirm that chain is intact and free of claims.
But searches can't catch everything. Forged signatures from decades ago, missing heirs, recording errors, or undisclosed liens can surface long after you close. Title insurance is what protects you when they do.
Two policies, two purposes
Most closings issue both. Each covers different parties for different reasons.
A lender's policy alone leaves you exposed. If a defect surfaces and reduces your equity, only an owner's policy reimburses you. Skipping it to save a few hundred dollars at closing is the most expensive coin flip in the transaction.
What we actually find
A small sample of what title insurance defends against.
The cost
Owner's title insurance is a one-time premium paid at closing. The policy stays in force for as long as you or your heirs hold title to the property.
A typical owner's policy runs around half a percent of the home's purchase price. Rates vary by state and are filed publicly. We'll quote you the exact number when your file opens.
FAQ
Legally, no. Practically, yes. Lenders require their own policy because they understand the risk. That risk applies to you too — and only an owner's policy reimburses you if a defect surfaces. The premium is paid once. The protection is for as long as you own the home.
In most states, title insurance rates are filed publicly with the state department of insurance and don't vary much from one company to another. The premium is a percentage of the purchase price. We can quote you the exact number once we know the property and price.
Defects in the chain of title — including forged signatures, missing heirs, recording errors, undisclosed liens, boundary disputes, and fraud. Standard policies cover the legal defense costs as well as financial loss up to the policy amount.
An owner's policy lasts as long as you or your heirs hold title to the property. There are no monthly or annual premiums.
The original owner's policy stays in force as long as you own the property. If you refinance, you'll typically pay for a new lender's policy (often at a discount). The original owner's policy continues to protect you.
Open an order in under two minutes. Or run the numbers on a closing before anyone signs.
