Title Insurance

• The Search
• Financing
• The Offer
• Counter Offers
• Contingencies
• Home Inspection
• Homeowner's Insurance
• Appraisal
• Title Insurance
• Closing
• FAQ's

A Title is a document that is usually recorded documenting the transfer of property from one party to another. Typically a title history will show the transfer of ownership over the course of time. Title’s were not always recorded and maintained as accurately as they are today and issues commonly referred to as clouds in title can occur today for discrepancies in the title that may have occurred years or decades ago.

When a buyer closes with a title company; the title company will conduct a search to try and establish that the title is clear of clouds and other discrepancies that are unknown to the buyer that should not affect the title once the buyer takes ownership of the property. However, even if the search turns up clear and the property closes appropriately it is still possible for clouds in title to arise in the future.

Therefore, a title company will typically issue a title insurance policy to cover the buyer and/or the buyer’s lender at the buyer’s expense. This is expense is referred to as a closing cost.

Issues with title can hold up a closing and it is the buyer’s responsibility to insure that the title history and title policy is satisfactory prior to closing. Take the time to review this information with your real estate agent and your title closing agent prior to closing.