In a recent real estate post, I discussed the need for a survey and why, often, it’s not as critical as it once was. The main reason for this is because of title insurance.
Title insurance, in a nice syllogism, insures your title. Basically, it protects you against issues that could come up to affect your ownership of the property that you did not or could not have found out about before your bought it – things like unregistered easements on your property, or encroachments from your neighbour’s property, or a prior owner doing work without a permit that would have normally not been permitted by the municipality. It also covers for fraud, in the event that someone impersonates you and puts a fake mortgage on your property or tries to sell it.
If you are getting a mortgage, you will almost always be required to get title insurance. Even if you aren’t, it’s usually a good idea – it’s low cost, and can give you peace of mind.
