When you purchase a home you want to be sure that you are protecting yourself and your family against claims to the title (ownership) of your home. When you buy an owner’s title insurance policy, it insures that no one else will have any liens, claims or encumbrances against your home other than your mortgage. Title Insurance protects the equity in your home against hidden risks or undiscovered interest such as:

• Fraud
• Invalid deeds delivered after the dea...

With more and more counties offering free access to real property records via the internet, many consumers are questioning the necessity of paying for professional title searches and title insurance protection when buying a home or investment property. In an era where consumers and legislators alike are attacking the perceived high costs associated with a property closing, every single closing cost is held under the microscope for justification.

Because the title insurance premium is...

So, it appears that the State of California has once again reverted to the age-old practice of resolving readily negotiated contract issues by ramming down more government regulation. An issue as easy as deciding what title company should handle the closing of a real estate transaction is now dictated by legislation, rather than free market choice.

Aimed at preventing banks from dictating the escrow and title services used in bank-owned (REO) property transactions, California’s...