When you’re purchasing a home or investment property, a title insurance policy is a great investment. Most real estate transactions are made in good faith, and closing typically runs smoothly. Unfortunately, most properties have changed hands a lot over the course of their lifetime, and the potential for problems with the title transfer increases with each sale. Many times, it might simply be misfiled paperwork, but occasionally there can be bigger problems, such as fraud, forgery, or even unknown heirs with a legitimate claim to the property. These title defects are commonly known as title clouds, and without a title insurance policy in place, you run the risk going through the lengthy and expensive process of resolving them at your own expense.
When you’re buying a home, title research is an important way to ensure that your transaction will be smooth and uneventful. The more times that a property has changed hands, the greater the chance that there could be previously undiscovered liens or encumbrances on the title, commonly known as “title clouds.” In the event that there are any clouds on the title, they must be resolved prior to closing, and title insurance will help protect you from being forced to pay correction fees out of your own pocket.
Buying a new home is exciting, but it can also be a little intimidating. A large asset is changing hands for a lot of money, and before the title can be transferred, a lot of research has to be performed, and a lot of documentation has to take place. Most sales run smoothly, but what can you do to protect yourself if there’s a problem?