Owner’s title insurance is important when you buy a Knoxville home. It helps protect your ownership interest should issues arise in the title.
Even when a thorough title examination is preformed, there are still issues that can arise. Last week, we looked at how owner’s title insurance protects you against errors in public records, unknown liens, and illegal deeds.
In this post, we’ll look at 3 more reasons why you need owner’s title insurance.
Missing Heirs
When someone passes away, ownership of a property passes on to the heirs named in the will.
When a will is older and hasn’t been updated in awhile, things can become complicated when those heirs are missing or are deceased themselves.
It is possible that even after you close on a home, if a missing heir is found or a family member contests the will, your ownership interest can fall into question. These scenarios are beyond your control, which is why owner’s title insurance is so important. It protects you against these unexpected situations.
Forgery
Unfortunately, there are some dishonest people in the world, who will forge or fabricate documents to get ahead in the world.
Oftentimes, these forgeries go undetected and are used to convey property, then become part of public record. When these forgeries are revealed, it can call into question the legitimacy of your ownership.
As a buyer, there is very little you can do to protect yourself against this type of problem. Owner’s title insurance can help protect you from this unknown situation.
Boundary/Survey Disputes
Surveys are not required for real estate transactions in Tennessee. Unless the title work indicates one is necessary or if a buyer desires to get one, a majority of real estate transactions in Tennessee do not get a survey.
Even if the survey of your property appears to be okay, there can be other surveys that exist that you’re unaware of. Two differing surveys can cause boundary disputes and may allow a neighbor to claim they own a portion of your property.
Owner’s title insurance can protect you against survey issues and boundary disputes.
Bottom Line – Owner’s Title Insurance Is An Important Investment
Owner’s title insurance is a one time purchase that will protect you and your heirs so long as you own the property. With a home being one of the largest investments you’ll ever make, it’s important that your ownership interest is protected.
Are you in the process of buying or selling a home in the Knoxville area? Title Group would love to assist you in any way possible. You can reach us at 865-392-5801 or via email at orders@titlegroupoftn.com.
Title Group of Tennessee is a full service Knoxville title company. We specialize in Knox, Sevier, Loudon, Blount, Jefferson, and surrounding counties. Title Group of Tennessee is ALTA Best Practices Certified since October 2015.