Title Insurance = Peace of Mind

Purchasing a home is likely the single biggest investment you will make in your lifetime. Before you close, you will want to know that no individual or entity has a right, claim or lien to the property.

A title company ensures that your new property won't surprise you with expensive encumbrances and other legal obstacles.

For a modest, one-time title insurance premium, you will receive continuous title insurance protection equal to the purchase price of the property or its current market value.

The title insurance company searches the property's title history. Through its research, the title insurance company can usually identify any title problems and clear up these problems prior to closing.

Real Estate law is extraordinarily complicated. Title companies make sure that all the T's are crossed and all the I's are dotted so you don't end up with a clouded title and legal problems. Your owner's policy will describe the property and outline the limitations on your ownership. It will also set forth the title company's responsibilities should any claim covered by the policy terms arise. Title insurance usually covers:

• Contested title — Someone, usually a previous owner or occupant, claims they still own the property or have not given up their claim. If this happens, the title company will defend your title at no expense to you.
• Defective title — This is a general term for a legal problem with the title that cannot be corrected and includes "contested title" above. Other examples of title defects include problems with legal access to the property, easements that make the property less usable, unusable, or unsaleable. Any number of other complex problems define "Defective title." The title insurance policy will protect you from these errors if the title company misses them.