5 Ways to Save on Title Insurance

Title Insurance refers to a policy that safeguards the interests of both the homeowner i.e Owner’s Title Insurance as well as the lender as Lender’s Title Insurance in cases related to the title of a house.

These issues may possibly include forgery, errors in deeds, encroachments, liens or lawsuits, etc. Title Insurance may cost you up to 0.5% to 1.0% of the total home price.

They can cost you hundreds of dollars from the final home sale price. So here’s our guide to saving up on title insurance.

What is Title Insurance?

Title insurance is a policy that safeguards the interests of both the homeowner and the lender in cases of issues associated with the house’s title, including:

• Liens or lawsuits
• Forgery
• Encroachment
• Undisclosed heirs
• Errors in deeds

What are the Title Insurance Costs?

Title policies usually cost about 0.5% to 1.0% of the home’s purchase price and are included in the home’s closing costs. You will get either a cumulative quote or an itemized breakdown of the policy, depending on the state you live in.

Title insurance costs are made up of several closing costs clubbed together. They typically include title search fees, title settlement fees, attorney fees, and other abstract and recording fees.

Ways to Save on Title Insurance

You can pull down the title policy costs if you follow these steps:

Step 1: Shop Around

Just like any other type of insurance, it’s important to shop around for the best deal on title insurance. Get quotes from multiple providers and compare their rates and coverage.

Various title insurance companies operate for different rates in each state. The differences in their policy fees can differ vividly. Hence it is advisable to shop around to find a better deal.

You can refer to the American Land Title Association to find out more about the prices of title insurance across all the states of the U.S.

Step 2: Bundle Insurance Policies

If you’re already getting both types of insurance such as homeowner’s insurance and lender’s insurance, consider bundling your policies with the same provider. This could potentially lead to a discount on your title insurance.

You can not negotiate the fees much in states with rates regulated by the state authorities. In such cases, the policy charges just differ slightly from company to company.

You should negotiate the additional fees that are included in title insurance policy packages. You can also ask the company to remove some of these fees too.

Step 3: Ask for a Reissue Rate

If you’re purchasing a property that has had title insurance in the past, ask the title insurance company for a reissue rate. This is a discounted rate that is offered when a property has had a policy issued in the past.

Step 4: Negotiate with the Seller

You can also ask for help from the homebuyer to help in bringing the policy cost down. In some cases, the seller may be willing to pay for some or all of the title insurance costs as part of the negotiation process. It never hurts to ask.

Step 5: Check for Discounts

Some title insurance companies offer discounts for certain circumstances, such as if you’re a first-time homebuyer or if you’re refinancing your mortgage. Be sure to ask if any discounts are available.

Local real estate agents could also guide you through the closing part. They might have relations with title insurers that could potentially help you in bringing the policy costs down.

Bottomline

Title insurance policy can cost you hundreds of dollars of profit from the final home sale price. You must be aware of the things that could potentially help you in cutting these costs down.

Asking out for help from real estate professionals and even the home buyer is a viable option.

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