Policies
Policy Types
Maryland | DC | Virginia
Learn the differences between owner’s title insurance, lender’s title insurance, and enhanced coverage options designed to help protect your investment.
Understanding Title Insurance
Title insurance helps protect against certain issues that could affect ownership rights to a property. Even after a careful title search, hidden problems such as recording errors, undisclosed heirs, liens, forgery, or other title defects can sometimes surface after closing.
Depending on the policy selected, additional protections may also be available for certain risks related to easements, boundary disputes, permit issues, covenant violations, and other covered title matters. Understanding the differences between policy types can help homeowners make informed decisions and feel more confident throughout the closing process.
Common Title Risks
Understanding Your Coverage Options
Different title insurance policies are designed to protect different parties involved in a real estate transaction. Understanding the differences between owner’s and lender’s coverage can help you make more informed decisions before closing.
owner’s Policy
Lender’s Policy
|
Standard Policy |
Homeowner’s Policy |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Title to the estate or interest described in Schedule A being vested other than as stated therein |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Any defect in or lien or encumbrance on the title |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Unmarketability of the title |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Lack of right of access to and from the land |
Yes |
Yes |
|
You do not have both actual vehicular and pedestrian access to and from the land based upon a legal right |
No |
Yes |
|
You are forced to correct or remove an existing violation of any covenant, condition or restriction affecting the land |
No* |
Yes |
|
Your title is lost or taken because of a violation of any covenant, condition or restriction, which occurred before you acquired your title |
No* |
Yes |
|
You are unable to obtain a building permit; you are required to correct or remove the violation; or someone else has a legal right to, and refuses to perform a contract to purchase the land, lease it or make a mortgage loan on it because of an existing violation of a subdivision law or regulation affecting the land |
No* |
Yes |
|
You are forced to remove or remedy your existing structures, or any part of them other than boundary walls or fences because any portion was built without obtaining a building permit from the proper government office |
No* |
Yes+ |
|
You are forced to remove or remedy your existing structures, or any part of them other than boundary walls or fences because any portion was built without obtaining a building permit from the proper government office |
No* |
Yes+ |
|
You cannot use the land because use as a single-family residence violates an existing zoning law or zoning regulation |
No* |
Yes |
|
You are forced to remove your existing structures because they encroach onto your neighbor’s land |
Yes |
Yes+ |
|
Someone has a legal right to and refuses to perform a contract to purchase the land, lease it or make a mortgage loan on it because your neighbor’s existing structures encroach onto the land |
Yes |
Yes |
|
You are forced to remove your existing structures, which encroach onto an easement or over a building set-back line |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Your existing structures are damaged because of the exercise of a right to maintain or use any easement affecting the land |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Your existing improvements, including lawns, shrubbery or trees, are damaged because of future exercise of the right to use the surface of the land for the extraction or development of minerals, water or any other substance |
No |
Yes |
|
Someone else tries to enforce a discriminatory covenant, condition or restriction that they claim affects your title, which is based upon race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin |
No* |
Yes |
|
A taxing authority assesses supplemental real estate taxes not previously assessed against the land for any period before the policy date because of construction or a change of ownership or use that occurred before the policy date |
No |
Yes |
|
Your neighbor builds any structures after the policy date which encroach onto the land |
No |
Yes |
|
The residence with the address is not located on the land at the policy date |
No |
Yes |
|
The map, if any, attached to the policy does not show the correct location of the land according to the public records |
No |
Yes |
* Coverage for the item is not provided in the ALTA Owner’s Policy UNLESS notice of the covenant, ordinance, statute or regulation is recorded in the public land records. Available by endorsement
+ Coverage is subject to a deductible and a liability cap.
Details provided by Old Republic Title Insurance Company
View the Full Coverage Comparison
Download the complete policy comparison chart to easily review standard and enhanced title insurance coverage options on your device.
Questions About Title Insurance?
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