Articles

Key Takeaways Title defects discovered after closing — undisclosed heirs, forged prior deeds, recording errors — can cloud your ownership even if you bought in good faith. Owner’s title insurance is the primary protection against post-closing ownership challenges; it covers legal defense costs and any judgment. Unpaid HOA dues, mechanic’s liens, and IRS liens can

Key Takeaways When you pay cash, no lender requires you to buy title insurance — but skipping it leaves you fully exposed to title defects. Forgery, fictitious-name signings, undisclosed liens, and clerical errors from past transactions can survive even a clean title search. Without title insurance, you pay all legal fees and any judgment if

Key Takeaways Government shutdowns and employee furloughs can delay mortgage closings when the lender must verify income with a federal agency (IRS, SSA, USDA, FHA). VA and FHA loan approvals depend on government agency operations — if those agencies are closed, loan processing stalls. Conventional loans with non-government income verification (W-2 income, private lenders) are

Key Takeaways Estate sale title claims most often arise when an owner dies intestate (without a will) and the probate court must sort out who inherits the property. Six common red flags: contested wills, undisclosed prior marriages, unknown children, tax liens, hidden wills, and broken joint-tenancy arrangements. A property cannot be sold until probate is

Key Takeaways Title insurance protects your ownership of a property — not the structure or contents — against undiscovered claims like prior-owner liens, undisclosed heirs, and clerical errors. It is a one-time premium paid at closing that covers you and your heirs for as long as you own the property. Common “clean” title searches still