In real estate lingo, ‘title’ refers to the rightful ownership of a property, such as a home. And while owning a home is generally viewed as a sound investment, it doesn’t come without inherent risks.
Much like you opt for medical insurance for yourself or auto insurance for your vehicle, it’s important to obtain insurance that indemnifies you against losses associated with the ownership (title) of your property.
Title insurance protects you against unforeseen issues associated with the ownership of the home you’re buying. These include, but are not limited to:
- Claims or liens attached to the title
- Mistakes in public records
- Encroachments
- Claims from builders
- Unpaid property taxes
- Title fraud
Title insurance is unique in that it not only covers issues that may occur in the future but also issues that have already occurred.
Buying a home is a complicated process, so you want it to unfold as carefree as possible. But imagine learning that a previous owner wasn’t properly discharged from your property’s title because mistakes were made on legal documents, or the enjoyment of your new home is impacted by the fact that your neighbour’s deck or fence is encroaching on your property. What if you find yourself faced with excessive fees and expenses arising from taking legal action or, even worse, you before a victim of title fraud whereby a fraudster assumes your home’s title and sells it? Title insurance provides you with peace of mind that challenges or defects on your home’s title will be covered.
The cost for title insurance varies based on the value of your property and the policy itself. Unlike other types of insurance, title insurance is a one-time premium, paid at the time of closing, and there is no deductible. The policy is good for as long as you own the home and can be arranged through your lawyer, broker or directly with a title insurance company.
Have questions about title insurance? Answers are just a call or email away!