Why You Need Owner’s Title Insurance

Purchasing a home is typically the first step to building long term wealth outside of maybe a 401k retirement account.  This makes your home one of your most valuable possessions BUT the ownership of your home could be threatened or even taken away from you even though you paid for the property and received a deed.  How could this be you ask?  If there are any liens or claims against the title to the home you buy that are not cleared prior to you purchasing the property then you are at risk of losing your home.  The best way to protect yourself and your home is to purchase Owner’s Title Insurance.

What is Owner’s Title Insurance?

Owner’s Title Insurance is meant to protect your ownership interest in your home, subject to the terms of the title insurance policy.  Owner’s Title Insurance protects you against any losses incurred due to any defects in the title that existed prior to you purchasing the home. Any liens or judgements you incur after purchasing the home are not covered by title insurance.

If you purchase an Owner’s Title Insurance policy when you purchase your home, it protects you for as long as you own the home from any claims against title from the day you bought the home back to the beginning of time.  The policy will protect you in the event that a legal challenge is made to the ownership of your home from any claim that would have occurred prior to you purchasing the home.

Top 18 Reasons Why You Need Owner’s Title Insurance

1. Protection from Forgery of a covered document
2. Protection from Fraud in the execution of a deed or other covered document
3. Protection from Undue influence exercised over the grantor or deed
4. Protection from Undisclosed or missing heirs
5. Protection from False impersonation by someone purporting to be the owner of the property
6. Protection from Wills not properly probated
7. Protection from Transfer of title by a minor
8. Protection from Mental incompetence of a grantor of a deed
9. Protection from Misinterpretation of wills and trusts
10. Protection from Heirs born after the execution of a will
11. Protection from Non-delivery of deeds
12. Protection from Incorrect legal descriptions
13. Protection from Deeds executed under expired  or false powers of attorney
14. Protection from Confusion due to similar or identical names
15. Protection from Incorrect indexing of the land records
16. Protection from Dower or curtest or homestead rights of spouses of former owners
17. Protection from Clerical errors in recording legal documents
18. Protection from delivery of deeds after the death of the Grantor

How Does Owner’s Title Insurance Work?

When a property is sold from the seller to the buyer the title or ownership interest in the property is transferred by a new deed that is recorded.  Often times there can be mistakes and irregularities on the title that were made long before you even expressed an interest in purchasing the property.  These issues can place your ownership in the property in dispute.  The seller of the property may have done one of the following just as an example:

• Avoided disclosure of using the property as a collateral for an unpaid loan
• Fraudulently claimed to be the sole owner of the property
• Failed to pay real estate taxes on the property

These things would place your ownership interest in the property in jeopardy if they were not discovered prior to you purchasing the home.  Even a simple mistake in the recording of any of the legal documents, improper execution of legal instruments or the reappearance of undisclosed or missing heirs could result in the loss of your home.  All of this can be avoided if you purchase an Owner’s Title Insurance policy when you purchase the home.

How Do You Purchase Owner’s Title Insurance?

In order to purchase Owner’s Title Insurance, you must contract a title company to provide a title search not only on the property that you are purchasing but also on the seller and each buyer.  The purpose of the title search is to ensure that the property and all parties involved do not have any outstanding debts, judgement, or tax liens that could affect your ownership interest in the property if  they are not properly cleared prior to you purchasing the home.  The title company will search public land records for documents and other interests that may be associated with the title to your new home.  There is a fee associated with the title search that is charged to the buyer at settlement and is part of the closing costs.

If the title search identifies any recorded defects, liens, or encumbrances upon the title, such as unpaid taxes, unsatisfied mortgages, easements, or restrictions then these are all put into a title report that is sent prior to closing.  The title company will work with all parties to get these items resolved prior to closing so that you can be issued clear title to the property.  The Owner’s Title Insurance policy will be issued at closing and guarantees the accuracy of the title search and report.  If anything comes up after the purchase of the home then a claim will be made against the title insurance policy to address the issues.

In Delaware, the law says a Delaware licensed attorney must conduct the settlement and they will typically hire the title company to provide the title search, title report, and the owner’s title insurance.  Therefore, picking the right Delaware Real Estate Attorney is essential to ensuring your get the proper search completed and the proper title insurance.

The cost of the title search, title insurance and title report will be shown on a Closing Disclosure (CD) form at closing.  Federal Law states you must receive the CD at least 3 days prior to settlement.  If you negotiated Seller Paid Closing Costs then you could have these fees paid at settlement by the seller of the property.

What Does the Title Insurance Company Do for You?

If ownership of your property is challenged, then to the extent of your coverage under the title insurance policy, the title company will defend your ownership of the property and assume the legal costs of that defense.  This coverage is in place for as long as you own the property.  The title insurance premium is paid only once at closing and is never paid again but protects you as long as you own the home.  What’s more, if challenges to your property’s title proves legitimate, the title insurance company will pay for your covered losses.

If you are looking to purchase or refinance a home in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Virginia then give the John Thomas Team with Primary Residential Mortgage a call at 302-703-0727 or you can APPLY ONLINE