Important Title Insurance Facts

WHY TITLE INSURANCE

Owning real estate is one of the most precious values of freedom enjoyed in this country. When you decide to buy a new home you want to be sure the property will be yours and that no one else will have any liens, claims, or encumbrances against your home other than your agreed to mortgage.

LOAN POLICY - LENDER

A loan policy insures your lender's security interest against loss due to defects in your title that were not discovered at the time of sale. The loan policy offers no protection for the homeowner.

OWNERS POLICY - HOMEOWNER

Just as lenders want security with their title policy, you should protect the equity in your new home with a title policy. For a low one-time premium you can receive the protection of a title insurance policy against hidden risks or undiscovered interests. Ask your title agent for an owners policy. Your policy should be backed by the reserves and surplus of a reputable title insurance company.

THE OWNER'S POLICY PROVIDES:

PROTECTION FROM FINANCIAL LOSS... due to covered claims that may be asserted against the title to your home up to the face amount of the title policy .

PAYMENT OF LEGAL COSTS... if the title insurer has to defend your title against a covered claim.

PAYMENT OF SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS... against the title to your home covered by the policy up to the face amount of the policy

TITLE INSURANCE PROTECTION

Some common hidden risks protected under a title policy.

FALSE IMPERSONATION of the true owner of the property by your seller or other persons formerly in title.

FORGED deeds, releases and other documents

DEEDS BY PERSONS OF UNSOUND MIND

DEEDS BY MINORS

INVALID DOCUMENTS executed under expired power of attorney.

INVALID DEEDS delivered after the death of the grantor.

DEEDS BY SUPPOSEDLY SINGLE persons but actually married

FRAUD

LIENS FOR UNPAID ESTATE INHERITANCE and gift taxes against prior owners of your home

UNRECORDED EASEMENTS - rights of way

UNDISCLOSED HEIRS of former owners of your home or the land on which it is situated

PEACE OF MIND

Once purchased title insurance remains in effect for as long as you own your home. Title insurance adds security and peace of mind to home ownership.

SELECTING A TITLE INSURER

STEWART TITLE has earned the confidence of its customers through an unmatched record of increases in both reserves and surplus for over 20 consecutive years.

STEWART TITLE is among the nation's four largest title insurers based on premium revenues. Our policies are available through more than 3,800 issuing offices worldwide

STEWART TITLE has more than 100 years experience. You can count on our policy coverage to help you protect a very important asset - your home.

STEWART TITLE is rated "A Double Prime" in claims-paying ability. This is the highest rating among all 100 title insurers rated by Demotech, Inc. a financial agency approved by the Federal National Mortgage Association. Stewart title is the only one of the four largest insurers in America to earn this rating. Stewart is also rated A+ by Lace Financial and A+ by Duff & Phelps.

Contact Layne Dodd at 1-800-769-2912 to find out more.