Introduction to our Frequently Asked Questions

Title is your ownership rights to your property.

While a deed is the physical document that transfers property, the title represents your “bundle of rights” recognized and protected by law. This includes the highest legal right to:

• Control and Use: The authority to manage and occupy the real estate.
• Possess and Enjoy: The right to use the property without outside interference.
• Dispose or Inherit: The legal power to sell, gift, or pass the property to your heirs.

Essentially, holding title means you have the ultimate legal standing to own, use, and control your home.

Title insurance is a policy that protects your investment and property rights. There are two different types of title insurance: owner’s policy and lender’s policy.

• An owner’s policy is purchased by you, the homebuyer. While it is your choice, purchasing an owner’s title insurance policy is the best way to protect your interests.
  • Who does it protect? You, the homebuyer, are covered as well as your trustees, inheritors, and beneficiaries.

• A lender’s policy is usually paid for by you or the seller. It is almost always required by the lender and protects only the lender’s interest.
  • Who does it protect? Only the lender is covered by the lender’s policy.

A home is the largest investment you will make in your life. Owner’s title insurance is the smart option that protects your property from legal claims. It’s a one-time fee that covers you and your heirs as long as you own your home. The owner’s policy also covers potential legal fees for settling claims against your ownership rights.

Use our title rate calculator to get an estimate on how much title insurance may cost.

A title search is an early step in the home-buying process to uncover issues that could limit your rights to the property.

Since title is the “bundle of rights” protected by law, the search ensures that bundle is “clear” and “marketable.”

During this process, a title professional investigates the property’s history to uncover:

• Existing Liens: Unpaid taxes, mortgages, or court judgments that must be cleared before you own the home.
• Easements or Restrictions: Legal “right-of-ways” that might allow others (like utility companies) to use part of your land.
• Ownership Gaps: Errors in past deeds or “breaks in the chain” that could mean someone else still has a legal claim to the property.

Under the owner’s title insurance policy, you are protected against any unforeseeable errors in the title. Common errors include:

Forgery: making a false document; for example, the seller misrepresents the identity of the person who signed the title.

Fraud: deception to achieve unfair gain; for example, someone steals your identity and either sells your house without your knowledge or consent, or takes out a second mortgage on the property and walks away with the money.

Human error: inconsistent paperwork and historical records; for example, an unforeseeable discrepancy in the property or fence line can cause confusion in tracking the title history.

Your owner’s insurance policy lasts as long as you or your heirs own the property.

Unlike most insurance policies that require ongoing premiums, Owner’s Title Insurance is a one-time purchase that provides protection for as long as you or your heirs hold an interest in the property.

Your coverage remains in effect:

• For Life: As long as you own the home, you are protected against any covered title defects that occurred prior to your purchase.
• For Your Heirs: If you pass the property down to your children or other heirs, the protection typically extends to them as well.
• After You Sell: In many cases, the policy continues to protect you even after you sell the home if you are sued over a title “warranty” you gave to the new buyer.

Essentially, it is a permanent shield for your highest legal right to own and possess the property, ensuring your investment is secure for this generation and the next.

While both are essential for protecting your home, they cover very different types of “hazards”:

• Homeowners Insurance protects against future events. It covers your physical house and belongings against sudden damage from things like fire, windstorms, theft, or lightning. You pay a monthly or annual premium to keep this coverage active.
• Title Insurance protects against past events. It covers your legal ownership rights from “hidden” risks that already existed before you bought the home—such as forgery, fraud, or human error in public records.

Key Differences at a Glance:

You can request title insurance as soon as you have a signed purchase agreement. At HomeSale Settlement Services, we streamline this process for you:

1. Initial Order: Your real estate agent or lender typically places the order with us to begin the title search.
2. Processing: We conduct a thorough search of public records to identify and resolve any liens or ownership issues.
3. Closing: Your one-time title insurance premium is paid at the settlement table. Your coverage lasts as long as you or your heirs own the property.

Ready to start? Use our title rate calculator to get an instant estimate of your costs, or contact our team to begin your order.