FAQ

What Is Title Insurance?
What Do I Bring to Closing?
Why Do I Need Title Insurance?
How Much Does Title Insurance Cost?
What Should I Expect at Closing?

What Is Title Insurance?

A title is the evidence that verifies one has right to possession of land. Title insurance plays a major role in making certain that your home ownership is free and clear of any rights or claims of prior owners. Title insurance protects the homeowner and the mortgage lender from potential risks associated with defects in title.

There are two kinds of title insurance: Owner's and Lender's.
Owner's Coverage is issued at the time the buyer purchases the property. Coverage is paid based upon the purchase price or the loan amount, whichever is greater. Coverage will last as long as the buyer or the buyer's heirs have an interest in the property. However, an owner's policy is not issued when you refinance.

Lender's or Mortgagee's Coverage protects the lender's investment in the property. However, this policy insures the lender against title defects that may affect the security of the mortgage loan - not the buyer's investment. The lender's title insurance policy is based on the amount of the mortgage and it decreases as the mortgage is paid off. Even if the lender has a title policy, the buyer still needs an owner's title policy to protect his/her interest.
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What Do I Bring to Closing?

Buyer:

1. Government-issued Photo identification for all parties involved in the transaction.
2. A cashier's check or a certified check for any balances due at settlement.

Proof of fire/homeowners insurance with a paid receipt for the policy. Insurance coverage must be a Replacement Policy or in the amount of the loan or greater.  Often times, these can be paid at closing if preferred.  Please contact us to discuss.

Seller:

1. Government-issued Photo identification for all parties involved in the transaction.
2. A current mortgage payoff statement for every loan against the property.  These should be provided to us in advance of closing.
3. All warranties on home equipment and appliances which will remain in the house.
4. Certifications of all inspections and requirements as stated in the Agreement of Sale.
5. The keys, properly identified.

Refinance Borrower:

1. Government-issued Photo identification (Driver’s License, Passport) for all parties involved in the transaction.
2. A cashier's check or a certified check for any balances due at settlement.  This is payable to Historic Abstract.   If you prefer wiring funds, please contact us for bank information at least 3 days prior to settlement.
3. A current mortgage payoff statement for every loan against the property. These should be provided to us in advance of closing.
4. Written proof that all of your prepaid escrows, like property taxes, water and sewer taxes, are current to the day of the settlement.
5. Copies or originals of all special conditions required by your lender. (Example: current pay stubs, termite certification)
6. Proof of fire/homeowners insurance with a paid receipt for the policy. Insurance coverage must be a Replacement Policy or in the amount of the loan or greater.  Often times, these can be paid at closing if preferred.  Please contact us to discuss.
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Why Do I Need Title Insurance?

Title insurance is necessary to protect against those risks which are present in all real estate transactions. Hidden hazards, which cannot be detected in the examination of title, can be forgery, incompetence of grantor or mortgagor, fraud, Adverse Possession, unknown heirs, impersonation, prior taxes or liens. These are just to name a few.
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How Much Does Title Insurance Cost?

Title insurance is directly related to the value of the property. The higher its value, the more coverage is needed. The premium is small compared to the total purchase price. The premium is paid only once and remains in force for as long as the property is owned by the insured.

Title Insurance Calculator  

The rates obtained from the calculator are estimates for the Premium only.  Often times, lenders require Title Endorsements, whose cost may vary.  In addition, recording fees, transfer tax, and other costs must be analyzed.  Please contact us at Larry@HistoricAbstract.com or HistoricAbstract@aol.com or 215-654-1771 for specific details about your loan or purchase.
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What Should I Expect at Closing?

Many people may attend the closing: Aside from the buyer and their real estate agent, the seller (or builder) and their real estate agent a loan officer, and your settlement officer, there may be lawyers and family members at the settlement table.

During the meeting, which usually takes about an hour, the buyer and the seller review all of the relevant closing papers, many of which must be signed. Then after the buyer provides a cashier's or certified check for the balance of the down payment and closing costs, the keys are passed from the Seller to the Buyer and the proceeds are given to the seller.
Historic Abstract provides a copy of the important settlement papers, and if desired, we can scan and PDF the papers digitally, for your proper record keeping.
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