 | Jeff Otto is Branch Manager of Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation which is a member of LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc., a premier national provider of title insurance and settlement services. Lawyers Title has been in the local marketplace since 1955. Jeff has been with Lawyers Title for 34 years, the last 24 right here in Wichita. You may contact Jeff at (316) 682-9600 x 201 or by e-mail at jotto@landam.com |
Real Estate
2005-11-01 16:19:00
Title insurance questions
ANSWER: A home is usually the largest single investment any of us will ever make. Title insurance protects against loss of value from hazards and defects that may exist in the title. These hazards include fraud, forged signatures on deeds, unknown property heirs, adverse possession claims, liens, and documentation errors. If you were uninsured and your right to title is challenged, you could lose significant money defending yourself or you could even lose your home. Your mortgage lender will require a loan policy of title insurance to protect their interest in the value of your property and a homeowner should purchase an owner's policy for the very same reason.An owner's policy of title insurance requires the insurance provider to pay for defending against any lawsuit attacking your title as insured, and will either clear up title problems or pay the insured's losses. For a one-time premium generally paid at closing, an owner's title insurance policy remains in effect as long as you, or your heirs, retain an interest in the property. What is a closing, you ask? A closing, which is also known as "settlement" or "escrow," is the event where the title to a property is transferred from seller to buyer. Closing is typically held in an office, such as that of an attorney, title agent or title insurance company, and involves the completion of all the necessary paperwork to finalize the agreement between buyer and seller. In addition, all financial issues are settled at closing - closing costs - and once the title is successfully transferred, the necessary documents are prepared, signed, and filed with local authorities. Just FYI, closing costs are all costs required to close the real estate transaction. They can include (but are not limited to) surveying fees, property taxes, title insurance, attorney fees, agent fees, points, loan origination fees, primary mortgage insurance (PMI), and the balance of your down payment. Prior to closing, you should review your final closing statement or HUD-1 Statement (whichever is in use) to ensure that all the calculations are correct and that you have been given all the credit for deposits and other agreed upon buyer and seller credits. Also recheck all lender, title, and escrow fees to make sure they are accurate. From the lender's standpoint, a refinanced mortgage is actually a brand new mortgage - complete with the same risks that may have been present originally. During the refinance process, your original mortgage is paid off - and your existing lender's title insurance policy is rendered null and void. However, if you purchased an owner's policy of title insurance at your original closing - that policy will remain in effect as long as you or your heirs own the property. More next month…
