Lower interest rates may have motivated you to refinance your home loan—and rightly so. A lower rate can save you a significant amount over the life of the loan. However, just like with any new loan, refinancing comes with closing costs. These include lender service fees, points, title insurance, an...

In today’s world of busy probate courts and rising estate taxes, living trusts have become a popular way to hold title to real property. If you're transferring property into a trust, or dealing with property already held in a trust, it's important to understand how title insurance companies handle s...

As a homebuyer, you’ve likely heard the term title insurance—but do you truly understand what you’re paying for? Unlike other forms of insurance, title insurance operates on the principle of risk elimination rather than risk assumption. That means title companies work to prevent problems from arisin...

If you're buying a home for the first time, you may be wondering why you're being asked to purchase yet another insurance policy—title insurance. It's a term you’ll often hear in real estate conversations or see mentioned in newspaper property sections. But unlike more familiar insurance types, titl...

You’ve heard of creative financing—and if you’re a seller with substantial equity, the idea of “carrying back a second” might sound especially attractive. But before you step into the role of a lender, there's one essential thing you need to understand: lender’s title insurance.Let’s say you’re sell...

In a real estate transaction, names matter—a lot. When a title company begins the process of verifying clear ownership, they must sift through countless public records. That’s where a Statement of Information comes in. This document plays a vital role in helping the title company distinguish you fro...