Understanding Your Choices

Title insurance doesn’t have to be confusing. We clearly explain the types of coverage and help you choose the best option for you.

Basic Owner's Policy

Title company searches all records back 40 years, tracing the ownership of your property. The Basic Policy protects you from hidden issues (Forgeries, Hidden Heirs, Fraud, Mistakes in Recording Legal Documents) and covers you up to the dollar amount of insurance provided by the policy. You pay for owner’s title insurance only one time – when you buy the property. The original premium is your only cost as long as you or your heirs own the property. There are no annual payments to keep your owner’s title insurance policy in force.
Coverage Overview

Someone else owns an interest in your land

Someone else has an easement on your land or other rights not listed on your property

You cannot obtain a loan or sell your land because of a defect in the title

 

Enhanced Policy

The Enhanced Owner’s Policy provides a higher level of coverage than the Basic. The Enhanced Policy covers all title defects that the Basic covers, plus additional defects that may occur pre and post closing. The Enhanced Policy also includes built-in inflation protection, where the policy amount will increase by 10% each year for the first five years up to 150% of the original policy amount. See below for additional coverage provided by the Enhanced Owner’s Policy.
Coverage Overview

Your land has no actual vehicular and/or pedestrian access

A document in your title is forged after the policy date

Your policy amount increases 10% per year up to 150% to cover increases in your property’s value

Your home is damaged due to use by others of an easement on the land, even if the easement is listed in your property

Restrictive Convenant Violations:

– You are forced to move your home due to an existing violation of a restrictive covenant

– You lose your land due to an existing restriction violation

Zoning and Subdivision Violations:

– You are unable to sell, build, mortgage, or lease your land due to a violation of subdivision law

– You are forced to remove existing structures (except boundary walls or fences) due to lack of a prior building permit or zone violation

– You are unable to use the property as a residence under existing zoning laws

Encroachments:

– You are forced to remove existing structures because they encroach onto your neighbor’s land

– Your neighbor builds a structure (other than a wall or fence) that encroaches onto your property after policy

– You cannot obtain a loan or sell your property because your neighbor’s structure encroaches onto your land

Have Questions?

We’re here to help. Call us at: 410-594-7474 to speak to a live agent 9-5:00 EST

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Title Company do for you?

Once you find your ‘Dream Home’ and are ready to make a purchase your title company coordinates and acts as an intermediary with you the customer, & the Lenders, Realtors, Surveying Companies, Home Owners Associations and Property Management Companies, County Records Office, and Title Abstractors. We record all the legal documents, and finalize the purchase or sale of the real estate.

What Happens at Closing?

The final steps in a real estate transaction are called your closing or settlement. It is the day that papers are signed, and money is transferred as the ownership of the property is officially transferred

Why Choose Property Title & Escrow?
We are top-rated, we have the highest underwriter rating. We are experienced; we have been in business since 1997 with over 48,000 closing settlements and counting. We have 2 licensed attorneys on staff.
What About Title Insurance?
Title insurance policies protect the homeowner by researching, prior to transfer, any potential issue that would affect the undisputed right of ownership. There are 2 levels of protection, Standard; which covers up to the point of sales transfer, and Enhanced which continues to protect through future issues. The enhanced policy also increases in value by 10% per year, up to 150% of the value of your home’s original purchase price.

Don't Be Shy

If we didn’t answer all of your questions, feel free to drop us a line anytime.