Title insurance is a type of liability insurance most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It protects against economic damage caused by a defect in title to your real estate and the invalidism or nonbinding of mortgage loans. As a homeowner, title insurance protects your property ownership. On the other hand, home insurance is a type of property insurance that protects you from financial loss due to natural disasters, theft, or different types of covered disasters. Most home loan lenders will require proof of home insurance that covers the total value or fair price of the home before financing anything.
Title insurance has three policies: owner’s policy, lender’s policy, and construction loan policy. They all cover different liabilities for the various participants in a real estate transaction. It is sometimes called a loan policy because it is only issued to home loan lenders.
An owner’s policy covers:
A lender’s policy works to protect the lender from possible losses if the seller cannot legally transfer title rights. The lender is protected up to the amount of the loan.
Many states have separate policies for construction loans. Acquiring title insurance for construction loans involves a "Date Down" endorsement, which acknowledges that the property's insurance cover has increased due to construction funds invested in the real estate.
There are several types of homeowners' insurance in the United States that have become industry standards. They are designated HO-1 through HO-8 and offer varying levels of protection depending on the homeowner's needs and the type of property receiving the cover. There are three types of coverage; actual cash value, replacement cost, and extended placement cost. The policy covers four kinds of incidents: interior damage, exterior costs, damage to personal belongings, and injuries experienced while on the property.
It covers the costs of damages due to any unfortunate event. Home insurance can be claimed for damage due to the following causes:
When purchasing title insurance, a closing agent initiates the process upon completion of the home purchase agreement. It is a one-time fee that covers two components: a premium charge and service fees. The premium is paid once at the end of the sale. The cost of an owner’s policy is based on the purchase price of the home, while that of the lender is based on the loan amount. The premium on an owner’s policy ranges between $500 and $3,500, depending on your state and insurer.
Several factors influence the cost of a homeowner’s policy, such as your state; the age and method of construction of your home; the average distance from the nearest fire station; your credit score; the insurance provider, etc. In the US, the average cost is $1,312 to $250,000 per year. However, the amount of premiums that you have to pay might be higher or lower than the listed average costs due to the variables mentioned above.
A homeowner policy helps you cover the financial cost of repairing damage to your home. Other benefits include the following:
Owner's title insurance is optional, but the lender's title insurance is required. If a claim arises after purchase, an owner's policy can protect you from losing your equity and your right to live in the residence. Even if you purchase a new home, defects may exist due to previous owners and the building contractor failing to pay all of its contract workers.
Title insurance protects the homeowner for the duration of their property ownership. If unpaid property taxes, outstanding liens, or fines for code violations appear after the property has been purchased, the uninsured homeowner will bear the entire financial burden. However, if you cannot cover these unexpected costs, you may be held liable for far more than you bargained for.
Now comes the million-dollar question. For liability reasons, the answer is yes. These insurance policies protect you differently and equally for investments made in your real estate. A title policy will only require one premium and offer a cover protecting your property ownership. A home insurance policy has annual premiums and protects you from damages such as theft, vandalism, and natural calamities.
Before you settle on an insurance policy from the service provider, do your due diligence and get quotes from different companies. At first, it might sound like a lot of expenses go into insuring yourself, but later on, you’ll be glad you did it. Protecting yourself and your investments from future unforeseeable and expensive costs relies on having insurance cover. Getting both a title and home insurance cover is a smart way of covering both your flanks. Contact us so we can help you narrow down your choices.
