Title insurance protects your ownership rights to a property against any claims that other people may have on your property. Even if your deed is fully executed and recorded at the courthouse, it does not necessarily cancel any prior rights on the property that could go back years. An owner’s insurance policy guarantees that the property that you are purchasing has no hidden defects in the title, such as undisclosed liens, forgeries, or human error by title professionals who researched the property. You’ll pay it one time at closing and it will protect you as long as you own the home, saving you time and legal fees if you ever do need to defend your rights to your property.

• Ordering title abstract and property survey
• Examining the title to assess "marketability and insurability"
• Contacting all parties to schedule settlement
• Preparing necessary closing documents
• Contacting the seller's lender to pay off any loans or liens on the property
• Preparing the title insurance binder for your lender
• Verifying property taxes with the local tax authority
• Verifying dues with your homeowner's association (if applicable)
• Prorating items between you and the seller, such as property taxes and homeowner's association dues
• Preparing the HUD-1 or Settlement Statement

• Preexisting violation of subdivision mapping laws
• Preexisting violation of conditions, covenants, and restrictions affecting the land
• Deed to land with improvements encroaching upon land of another
• Incorrect survey (misstating location, dimensions, area easements, or improvements upon land)
• Forgery after the date of policy
• Federal estate or state inheritance tax liens (may attach without recorded notice)
• Physical location of easement (underground pipe or sewer line) which does not conform with easement or record

• Certified funds and checkbook in the amount of your lender's estimate. Any additional funds can be paid at the settlement table with a check and any overpayments will be refunded.
• Photo Identification- Bring a government issued form of photo identification. Some lenders may require a secondary form as well.
• Lender Conditions- Bring your homeowner’s policy evidence of coverage and paid receipt to settlement.
• Additional items such as termite, well or septic reports, gift funds letter, letter of explanation, etc. may be requested by your lender.