Protecting Your Home with Title Insurance

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Buying a home will likely be the largest investment you make in your life. Before you close, you'll want to know that no other individual or entity has a right, lien or claim to the property.

Determining that your rights and interests to the property are clear is the business of a title insurance company.

For a modest, one-time title insurance premium, you will receive continuous title insurance protection equal to the purchase price of the property or its current market value.

The title company searches the property's title history. Through its research, the title company can almost always find any title problems that may arise and clear up these problems before you close on the property.

Because Real Estate Law is so complicated, you need an expert to make sure that all previous transactions have been correct, so you don't end up with legal problems or a problem with the title to your property. Your title insurance owner's policy will describe the property and outline the limitations on your ownership. It will also set forth the title company's responsibilities should any claim covered by the policy terms arise. Typically your title insurance will protect you in the following cases:

• Contested title — This usually happens when someone who owned or even lived in the home before you claims to still hold an interest. If this happens, the title insurance company will defend your title at no expense to you.
• Defective title — "Defective title" covers any number of problems with the title to your home. It can even include a "contested title". Other examples of title defects include problems with legal access to the property, easements that make the property less usable, unusable, or unsaleable. Many other complex problems define "Defective title" or "Clouded Title." The title insurance company will find these title problems, or if they miss them, insure your loss up to the amount of the policy.

First Community Bank of Central Al. can walk you through the pitfalls of getting a mortgage. Call us: (334) 285-8850.