What is title insurance?
A title
insurance policy contains a statement of the condition of ownership
of real property. A title policy indemnifies you against certain
loss or damage that you might incur relative to title defects on
your property. In the event of a lawsuit challenging your ownership
interest, the title insurance company provides a legal defense for
the policyholder and, if the suit is lost, pays all valid claims or
losses up to the face amount of the policy.
Why do I
need title insurance?
A forgery 40
years ago; a deed executed under duress; a long lost heir; an error
by the clerk in the county recorder's office; a misapplied tax
payment: these are but a few of the hidden "title defects" that
could cause you to lose the single largest investment in your
lifetime, your home. And even if you don't lose your property
altogether, title problems could make it difficult or impossible for
you to sell your home in the future.
You don't want
an event that occurred before you bought the property to deprive you
of your ownership or your right to use or dispose of the property.
And you don't want to have to pay the ruinous costs of defending
your property rights in court. A title insurance policy from a
nationally known, financially sound title insurance company is your
best protection against defects that could remain hidden despite the
most thorough search of the public land
records.
When do I
purchase title insurance?
For a one-time
premium paid at the time of your settlement, you can receive a title
insurance policy to protect against title defects or claims made
against title. Your policy will protect you even after you sell the
property or pay off any loan. The cost of title insurance will be
reflected at settlement as part of your total closing
costs.
In addition to
your Owner's title insurance policy, your lender will almost always
require you to purchase a title insurance policy to insure their
interest in the property up to the face amount of their loan. The
Lender's policy is only applicable to the specific transaction, and
it provides coverage for the mortgage lien and it protects against
errors made in the title search connected with that transaction, as
well as any pre-existing clouds on title. Therefore, each new lender
will want a lender's policy that is specific to their transaction,
whether for a purchase or a refinance.
Why
should I purchase title insurance from NVT&E?
At NVT&E,
we strive to remedy all known title defects prior to closing. You
can rely on our experienced staff to isolate and correct issues that
would often go unnoticed or overlooked by others. This is why we
offer our customers enhanced coverage policies as our standard form
of title insurance, the NVT&E Eagle Policy.
We are also a
licensed agent for the nation's largest and most secure title
insurance underwriter. You can rest assured that if you need to seek
protection from your title insurer, they have the financial ability
to defend your claim, and they have the professional reputation for
protecting their policy holders.