Why Title Insurance?

In every real estate transfer the matter of title examination typically arises. The home purchaser may question whether title insurance is really necessary when an examination of the title has been completed by a title examiner or real estate attorney as part of the real estate purchase transaction, especially when the examination of available title records shows no adverse information which might lend question as to the marketability of the title. But does an examination of title records necessarily remove all doubt of title problems eventually surfacing? The answer is NO...And that is why title insurance exists and why we at DHI Title believe it plays such an important role in protecting the real estate interests and equity of all policy holders.

Two Kinds of Policies

• It is important for the buyer to know that there are two kinds of title insurance.
• Lender's title insurance protects the interest of the mortgage lender. Lenders, knowing the many things that can snarl title to real property, usually and rightly insist upon lender’s title insurance to protect their stock holders and/or investors.
• Owner's title insurance protects the equity of the buyer. Both kinds of title insurance (Lender’s title insurance and Owner’s title insurance) are available in most areas in a single, relatively low cost package that protects both the lender and the buyer for as long as they or their heirs have any interest in the property. The one-time premium is relatively small*. The protection can be great**.

*The amount of the one-time premium is directly related to the value of your home, and it may vary depending on the value of your home. ** Certain coverages may be subject to deductibles and liability caps.

What Are the Risks?

• There are many a number of different title defects that can arise to cause the loss of your property or your mortgage investment. Title defects not disclosed by a most careful search of the public records, called "hidden risks", are can be the most dangerous. Because of them, your title may be worthless. Your attorney's examination may be the finest that skill, experience, and legal knowledge can produce, but your title may nonetheless be fatally defective. Here are some title defects that frequently can occurarise. You may not discover title defects when you buy real estate. But months or years later, they a previously undiscovered title defect can result in the loss of your property or an expensive lawsuit.
  • Forged deeds, releases, etc.
  • Deed from a bigamous couple
  • Deeds by persons of unsound mind
  • Deeds by minors
  • Ultra vires deed given under false corporate resolution
  • Deeds in lieu of foreclosure given under duress
  • Instruments under fabricated or expired power of attorney
  • Discovery or will of apparent intestate
  • Surviving children omitted from will
  • Birth or adoption of children after date of will
  • Marital rights of spouse purportedly, but not legally divorced
  • Mistakes in recording legal documents
  • False personating of the true owner of land
  • Deeds by persons supposedly single, but married
  • Deed of community property recited to be separate property
  • Deeds delivered after death of grantor/grantee
  • Deeds by aliens
  • Deeds to or from defunct corporations
  • Defective acknowledgments
  • Duress in execution of instruments
  • Undisclosed divorce or spouse who conveys as consort's heir
  • Misrepresentation of wills
  • Undisclosed or missing heirs
  • Claims of creditors against property sold by heirs or devisees
  • Administration of estate of persons absent but not deceased

**The information above is for educational purposes only.**