Protecting Your Home with Title Insurance

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Purchasing a home is probably the largest investment you will make in your lifetime. Before closing on the house, you'll want to know that no individual or entity has a lien or claim to the property.

A title insurance company ensures that your new property is free of encumbrances and other legal obstacles.

You pay the title company a single premium which includes the cost of verifying clear title and covers you in case some fault is later discovered in the title.

The title company searches the property's title history. The title insurance company can usually identify any title problems that may arise and have these problems cleared-up prior to closing.

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 owner's policy will describe the property and outline the limitations on your ownership. It will also cover what the title insurance company is responsible for. Title insurance covers the following:

• 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 and will cost you nothing.
• 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 policy will protect you from these errors if the title company misses them.

At First Community Bank of Central Al., we answer questions about this process every day. Call us at (334) 285-8850.