Frequently Asked Questions

Title insurance protects against claims from title defects. Defects are things such as another person claiming an ownership interest, improperly recorded documents, fraud, forgery, liens, encroachments, easements and other items that are specified in the insurance policy.

Title refers to verifiable ownership in a piece of real estate property, and it serves as the evidence that an owner/seller is in lawful possession of that property.

Title insurance, is an insurance policy that is issued for protection in real property transactions. It exists to protect real estate owners and lenders against property loss or damage they experience because of encumbrances, liens, or issues/defects in the title (true ownership) to the property. Each title insurance policy is individually underwritten through a large insurance underwriter, and it is subject to specific terms, conditions, and exclusions.

Unlike other forms of insurance, the original premium is your only cost as long as you own the property. There are no annual payments to keep your Owners Title Insurance Policy in force. If you re-finance, a new lender may require a new policy, but ask us about a re-issue credit that GREATLY decreases the associated costs.

Purchasers and lenders need title insurance to know the property they are buying is insured against various possible title defects. The insurance policy protects the lender and the buyer. Whether it’s a sale, refinance, construction loan…the seller, buyer and lender all benefit.

The insurance policy protects you in two main ways. First, the insurance company promises to protect your title in court whenever necessary – at their expense. Second, if there is a cost to settle your claim, should a valid claim against your ownership exist, the insurance company will bear the cost of settlement.

• Bankruptcies
• Clearing Liens, Judgments
• Clearing Child/Spousal Support Liens
• Common Names
• Clearing Liens, Judgments
• Disclosures
• Establishing Fact of Death-Joint Tenancy
• Foreclosures
• Probates
• Use of, Proper Execution of Power of Attorney
• Family Trust
• Business Trusts
• Recent Construction
• Physical Inspection Findings-Encroachments, Off-Record Easements
• Proper Execution of Documents
• Proper Jurats, Notary Seals
• Transfers/Loans Involving Corporations/Partnerships
• Last Minute Changes in Buyers
• Last Minute Changes in Coverage

If the trustor is not able to do so, or the trust provisions prohibit the trustor from appointing a new trustee, the court may do so.

An agreement between a trustor and trustee for the trustee to hold title to and administer designated assets of the trustor for the use and benefit of one or more beneficiaries.

No. The living trust is an arrangement between a trustee and a trustor. Only the trustee, on behalf of the trust, may own and convey any interest in real property. The trustee may only exercise the powers granted in the trust.

A certification of trust containing ALL of the following information:

1. Date of execution of the trust instrument,
2. Identity of the trustor and trustee
3. Powers of the trustee
4. Identity of person with power to revoke trust, if any
5. Signature authority of the trustees
6. Manner in which title to the trust assets should be taken,
7. Legal description of any interest in the property held by the trust
8. A statement that the trust has not been revoked, modified, or amended in any manner which would cause the certification to be incorrect and that the certification is being signed by all currently acting trustees of the trust.

To the lender, a refinance loan is no different than any other home loan. So, your lender will want to insure that its new loan is protected by title insurance, just as the original lender required. Therefore, when you refinance you are buying a title policy to protect your lender. REMEMBER to ask us about a BIG DISCOUNT on your re-issue credit for a future re-finance closing.

Most lenders generate loans and then immediately sell those loans to secondary market investors, such as FannieMae. FannieMae, in order to protect its security interest in the loan, requires title insurance coverage. Even those lenders who keep original loans in their portfolio are wise to get a lender’s policy to protect its investment against title related defects.

Yes. Title companies offer a refinance transaction discount or a short term rate. Discounts may also be available if you use the same lender for your refinance loan and your original loan. Be sure to ask us how it can save you money.

Since the time that the original loan was made, you may have taken out a second trust deed on the house or had mechanic’s liens, child support liens or legal judgments recorded against you – events that could result in serious financial losses to an unprotected lender. Regardless if it has been only 6 months or less since you purchased or refinanced your home, a myriad of title defects could have occurred. While you may not have any title defects, many homeowners do. The only way for a lender to adequately protect itself is to get a new lender’s policy each time you purchase or refinance your home.

You may not know the owner as well as you think you do. People undergo changes in their personal lives that may affect title to their property. People get divorced, change their wills, engage in transactions that limit the use of the property and have liens and judgments placed against them personally for various reasons. There may also be matters affecting the property that are not obvious or known, even by the existing owner, which a title search and examination seeks to uncover as part of the process leading up to the issuance of the title insurance policy. Just as you wouldn’t make an investment based on a phone call, you sshouldn’tbuy real property without assurances as to your title. Title insurance provides these assurances. The process of risk identification and elimination performed by the title companies, prior to the issuance of a title policy, benefits all parties in the property transaction. It minimizes the chances that adverse claims might be raised, and by doing so reduces the number of claims that need to be defended or satisfied. This process keeps costs and expenses down for the title company and maintains the traditional low cost of title insurance.