I was talking to my friend Dan Engen from the Cincinnati based Prominent Title Agency yesterday. We were discussing that many consumers are confused over what a title company does for them.  As a result of that discussion he has outlined the role his company plays in the real estate transaction for the greater Cincinnati consumer.

Welcome to guest blogger:  Dan Engen

What do we do?
Once a title has been requested, we order a search with an examiner. The examiner sends us a report that identifies mortgages, encumbrances, liens, or any other public information on the property. We take the report and create a title commitment stating all of the steps that must be done in order to close the loan (payoff liens, identify encumbrances; payoff mortgages; etc).  The commitment must be clear in order for us and the lender to allow the closing. From there, we work with lenders; schedule the closing with all parties; and prepare a HUD-1 or Settlement Statement from information the lender provides in a closing package. We must follow the lender’s instructions exactly or they could refuse to fund the loan.  After closing the loan, we then take all of the recordable documents to the courthouse and record them. Then we ship the package back to the lender for their review. Once the documents return from the courthouse we then issue a title policy to the lender.

What is Owners Title Insurance?
Title insurance is protection against loss if a covered defect is found in the title of the property. When you purchase a home, you are given a title to the property, which generally means you receive full legal ownership BUT sometimes there is a hidden mistake in a prior deed, will, mortgage, etc., that may give someone else a legal claim against your property.

Why is title insurance important?
Because it provides a safety fence around your property. Having title insurance can save you money, time, trouble and even your home.

What risks are covered?
1. Errors – Incorrect information in deeds, mortgages, public records, etc, such as wrong names.
2. Liens – Claims against the property or the seller that become the new owner’s responsibility after the sale. Examples are unpaid mortgages, taxes, sewer and water assessments, bills owed to workers or other creditors, etc.
3. Claims to Ownership – for instance, a claim to ‘marital interest’ by the spouse of a former owner or by a child of a former owner who was not mentioned in his or her parents’ wills.
4. Invalid Deeds – for example, transfer by a previous seller who did not actually own the property, or by a previous owner who was not mentally competent.

Many of these problems might not be discovered in a routine title search.

For more information on title insurance, call Dan Engen at Prominent Title Agency.  You can reach Dan at 513-779-7714

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