It makes sense to look into title insurance when you’re purchasing land. But what is title insurance, and how does it help protect you and your investment?
Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase. Affiliate relationships include, but are not limited to Amazon Associates, Walmart.com, and Etsy.
You always want to be as protected as possible with any real estate investment that you make. For that reason, here’s what you need to know.
What is Title Insurance?
Title insurance is protection against title defects. The title itself is documented proof of ownership and the seller’s right to both possess and sell a particular piece of property. When you buy land, you buy the title, and are from then on the one with those rights.
In a perfect world, all land sales would go smoothly and no seller would mislead a buyer either intentionally or unintentionally. In the real world, however, things happen, and sometimes a title doesn’t turn out to be legitimate. And occasionally, buyers don’t find that out until after the investment has been made and the allegedly legitimate title has been transferred.
Here’s where title insurance comes in. If you have it, you don’t have to worry about losing the investment that you’ve put into a property if it turns out that it was not actually within the seller’s rights to list and sell it. It comes in handy in instances of ownership disputes, as well as in circumstances where the seller had a lien, unpaid taxes, or another property issue that should have prevented them from selling.
Do note that title insurance is different from mortgagee title insurance, which your lender will require you to purchase. Mortgagee title insurance protects your loan provider from title defects, while title insurance protects you.
Cost of Title Insurance
The price of your title insurance will vary depending on who you purchase it from. In general though, expect to spend of the amount you have agreed to purchase the property for. Even if you’re not keen to add another closing cost to your sale, it’s a small price to pay for the protection that you get. If you’re in a strong market position, you may be able to get the seller to cover the cost of your title insurance (mortgagee title insurance, however, is always the responsibility of the buyer).
Don’t Forget to Do a Title Search
Another key task in protecting yourself against title defects is to perform a title search before closing on the deal. The title insurance company you plan to use should do this for you, but if they don’t, talk to your real estate agent about other ways to have the title search done. This search will reveal whether there are any hidden title defects that you need to know about, and will ensure you get this information prior to making a considerable investment.
So, Title Insurance: Yay or Nay?
It is almost always going to be a good decision to spring for title insurance, whether you end up needing it or not. Even if a comprehensive title search doesn’t turn up anything suspicious, title insurance ensures that you will have nothing to worry about and that your assets are safe. When in doubt, the more protection you have, the better.
This is a contributed post.
Related
-
Open House Cleaning Checklist Printable
-
Printable Moving Labels To Organize Boxes By Rooms They Will Go In
-
Printable 30 Day Moving Plan
-
Decluttering Plan
-
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MOVING
-
PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE BEFORE IT GOES ON THE MARKET
-
QUICK HOUSE SHOWING CLEANING CHECKLIST: THINGS TO DO BEFORE AN OPEN HOUSE
-
PACKING TIPS FOR MOVING FROM A LARGE FAMILY HOMESCHOOLING MOM WITH EXPERIENCE
-
30 DAY MOVING PLAN THAT INCLUDES HELP FROM THE FAMILY
-
HOW TO KEEP YOUR STORAGE UNIT ITEMS SAFE
-
THE BEST WAY TO PACK A STORAGE UNIT
Free Open House Cleaning Checklist
Tell me where to send your free cleaning checklist.
Subscribe so you never miss a post.
More Moving Posts to read.
If you find my tips useful, feel free to buy me a coffee to support my efforts. Thank you in advance!
Want to remember this? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest Board!
Do You Need Title Insurance When You Buy Land?
Join the newsletter
Subscribe to receive our latest articles and promotional content by email from NeededInTheHome
Leave a Reply