A few weeks ago, I mentioned title insurance as a common cost on a purchase. What is title insurance?
Basically, title insurance protects against things you have no control over. The big one is fraud; if someone impersonates you and puts a fake mortgage on your house, or sells it, then your title insurance will fix things.
It also protects against a former owner doing work without a permit, or a neighbour building something onto your property.
Given the small cost of title insurance, it’s generally well worth it.