Frequently asked questions
What is title insurance?
Title insurance is a form of indemnity insurance that protects lenders and homebuyers from financial loss sustained from defects in a title to a property. The most common type of title insurance is lender’s title insurance, which the borrower purchases to protect the lender. The other type is owner’s title insurance, which is often paid for by the seller to protect the buyer’s equity in the property.
What is escrow?
When buying a home, you’ll probably hear your lender or real estate agent use the word escrow. The term escrow can describe a few different functions, from the time your offer is accepted to the day you close on your home - and even after you become a homeowner with a mortgage.
Why do I need title insurance?
- Title insurance protects lenders and buyers from financial loss due to defects in a title to a property.
- The most common claims filed against a title are back taxes, liens, and conflicting wills.
- A one-time fee paid for title insurance covers pricey administrative fees for deep searches of title data to protect against claims for past occurrences.
- Any real estate transactions must have a clear title to ensure that the property is free from liens.
What does my title insurance cover?
A title insurance policy will cover numerous risks like flawed records, incorrect ownership, and falsified documents.
How long is my new home covered by title insurance?
Title insurance policy’s last for as long as you own the house. You will need to engage with your title company if you refinance your home to order to keep the coverage valid.
Can I say no to title insurance?
Technically yes! But if you have a loan, then most banks require title insurance for both you and the lender
What is an attorney opinion letter (A.O.L.)
A.O.L’s are a new process by which an attorney reviews a properties title and creates a letter indemnifying the lenders of any Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac backed banks. This process allows the buyer/seller to pay significantly less fees than a typical title insurance policy.
How is SmplyTitle so much less expensive than the others?
We’ve built a digital first company that relies on automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning to cut out expensive and time consuming process. This results in us being able to offer discounts to all our clients.
Do I have a choice in choosing my title company?
Yes you do! Most jurisdiction have laws in place that you the buyer/seller are entitled to use whichever title company you want.
Should I be worried about fraud with my new home?
Of all properties bought and sold only about 3% of those transactions result in some sort of claim. That’s not much.
How can do I get in touch with someone at SmplyTitle?
We’d love to chat with you. Please start with emailing us at [email protected]
What states does SmplyTitle operate in?
We are currently licensed in Arizona but will be expanding to all states within the next year.