Your Home column: Do you need Title Insurance?

Lender's Title Insurance is required (if you obtain a mortgage), but owner's title insurance is optional. An owner's policy can protect you against losing your equity and your right to live in the home if a claim arises after purchase. Even if you're buying a new home, defects can exist because the land has had previous owners and the builder might not have paid all of its contractors.

Here are some of the issues an owner's title policy can protect you against:

Property survey errorsBoundary disputesErrors on the property deedBuilding code violations by a previous ownerClaims by an ex-spouse who didn't sign off on the saleForged documentsLiens from contractors, taxing entities or previous lendersEncroachmentsImproperly recorded documents

Title Insurance is a small price to pay to protect your interest in case anyone challenges your title after you close on your home. For title and escrow questions contact our team at (402) 721-5833 or visit www.dcte.net on the web. This advertisement is provided by Lori Thomas with Dodge County Title & Escrow, 549 N. Main St.