Purchasing a home is an exciting time, but it can also be nerve racking. However, home buyers are able to remove some of the uncertainty by protecting their purchase with a title commitment.
What is a Title Commitment?
A title commitment is the title company’s offer and promise that they will issue a title insurance policy for the property after it closes. It lays out the terms, conditions and exclusions found in the title insurance policy. Title commitments usually expire six months after their date of issuance.
Before issuing the written agreement, an insurance company will conduct a thorough review and examination of the property to assure there are no issues that could prevent full ownership.
This is a first step towards receiving title insurance.
What is a Title Insurance?
Title insurance reduces risk in the transfer of real estate property. It protects home buyers from bearing sole responsibility for guaranteeing the validity of the seller’s title. With this type of insurance, the buyer is protected from an invalid or fraudulent title that could cost them their investment.
It includes protection against:
- Forgery and impersonation
- Undisclosed prior mortgage or lien
- Lack of competency or legal authority to sell
Why Home Buyers need this Protection
If you are buying residential real estate, you might be asking yourself this question: why do I need a title insurance policy if the bank already has one?
The answer is that the buyer needs this written agreement to protect their interests should anything unexpected go wrong.
For example, after purchase the new owner could be sued by neighbors for a preexisting condition of a house, such as a violation of local building codes. It also protects home buyers against liens on a house as a result of the debts of its owners.
Without title insurance, it’s possible a buyer could purchase a real estate property that the seller doesn’t even own.
This is why it’s critical to protect yourself. A title commitment will clear up defects in a title before purchase to allow the buyer, seller and mortgage lender to proceed with a transaction.
Then, you can focus on what’s most important to you: preparing to enjoy your new home.
