21 Reasons You Need Title Insurance

It’s a common question…

Why do I need title insurance?

I am asked that question a couple times a month, usually during a loan closing.  The question is asked right after I cover the title insurance fees on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. The short reply is to protect you as the rightful owner of the property.

A much more complete list is included below (I have to admit, I am not able to recite the entire list from memory).

1. A fire destroys only the house and improvements. The ground is left. A defective title may take away not the only the house but also the land on which it stands. Title insurance protects you (as specified in the policy) against such loss.
2. A deed or mortgage in the chain of title may be a forgery.
3. A deed or a mortgage may have been signed by a person under age.
4. A deed or a mortgage may have been made by an insane person or one otherwise incompetent.
5. A deed or a mortgage may have been made under a power of attorney after its termination and would, therefore, be void.
6. A deed or a mortgage may have been made by a person other than the owner, but with the same name as the owner.
7. The testator of a will might have had a child born after the execution of the will, a fact that would entitle the child to claim his or her share of the property.
8. A deed or mortgage may have been procured by fraud or duress.
9. An heir or other person presumed dead may appear and recover the property or an interest therein.
10. Title transferred by an heir may be subject to a federal estate tax lien.
11. A judgment or levy upon which the title is dependent may be void or voidable on account of some defect in the proceeding.
12. Title insurance covers attorneys’ fees and court costs.
13. Title insurance helps speed negotiations when you’re ready to sell or obtain a loan.
14. By insuring the title, you can eliminate delays and technicalities when passing your title on to someone else.
15. Title insurance reimburses you for the amount of your covered losses.
16. A deed or mortgage may be voidable because it was signed while the grantor was in bankruptcy.
17. Each title insurance policy we write is paid up, in full, by the first premium for as long as you or your heirs own the property.
18. There may be a defect in the recording of a document upon which your title is dependent.
19. Claims constantly arise due to marital status and validity of divorces. Only title insurance protects against claims made by non-existent or divorced “wives” or “husbands.”
20. Many lawyers, in giving an opinion on a title, protect their clients as well as themselves, by procuring title insurance.
21. Over the last 24 years, claims have risen dramatically.

As you can see, title insurance protects the policy holder against many different challenges to rightful ownership of   real property.   Also important to note is the fact that all of this coverage is provided to the owner for a one time premium. As item 17 states, the policy is in effect “for as long as you or your heirs own the property.”

If you have any specific questions on title insurance, please leave a comment below.