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Why Lenders Require Title Insurance When Refinancing

By
Title Insurance with Stewart Title of California

Good Day everyone, great info on why lenders require Title for your refi. Make it a great day!!

Lower interest rates have motivated you to

refinance your home loan. The lower rate may

save you a tremendous amount of money over

the life of the loan, but you should also expect

to pay the lender the typical closing costs

associated with any new loan, including

service fees, points, title insurance protection

and other expenses.

Why do I need to purchase a new title

insurance policy on a refinanced loan?

 

 

To the lender, a refinance loan is no different

than any other home loan. So, your lender will

want to insure that its new loan is protected by

title insurance, just as the original lender

required. Therefore, when you refinance you

are buying a title policy to protect your lender.

Why does a Lender need title insurance?

 

 

Most lenders generate loans and then

immediately sell those loans to secondary

market investors, such as FannieMae.

FannieMae, in order to protect its security

interest in the loan, requires title insurance

coverage. Even those lenders who keep

original loans in their portfolio are wise to get

a lender's policy to protect its investment

against title related defects.

When I purchased my home, didn't I also

buy a lender's policy?

 

 

Perhaps. Who pays for the lender's policy on a

purchase loan varies regionally and by the

terms of individual contracts. However, even if

you did buy a lender's policy when you

purchased your home, the lender's policy

remains in force only during the life of the loan

that was insured. If you refinance, the old loan

is paid off ( the "life" of the loan expires) and a

new loan is issued for with the lender will

require a new title insurance policy.

What about my original title insurance policy

?

When you bought your home, you purchased a

homeowner's title policy. The homeowner's policy

stays in force as long as you or your heirs own the

home. When you refinance, your lender will often

require that you purchase a new lender's policy to

protect its new security interest in the property.

Thus, you are buying a policy to protect your

lender, not a new homeowner's policy.

What could possibly have happened since I

purchased my home which warrants a new

lender's policy?

 

 

Since the time that the original loan was made, you

may have taken out a second trust deed on the

house or had mechanic's liens, child support liens

or legal judgments recorded against you - events

that could result in serious financial losses to an

unprotected lender. Regardless if it has been only

6 months or less since you purchased or refinanced

your home, a myriad of title defects could have

occurred. While you may not have any title

defects, many homeowners do. The only way for a

lender to adequately protect itself is to get a new

lender's policy each time you purchase or

refinance your home.

Consumer's Title & Escrow has what is called a Choice Rate which is Title & Escrow combined.
This rate applies to refinances only and is one of the lowest rates in California. You may call our Escrow officer Debra Lasater at 805.495.7200 for more details. 

Dennis Herman
Crossroads Real Estate LLC - Howards Grove, WI
Dennis Herman

Scott

You are a wealthj of information.  May I make a few suggestions for future posts?  Do you do loan modifications or work with an organization in your area that may supply you with leads?  Get that information out to the public.  Contact these organizations and I am sure they will supply you with months worth of posts. 

Dec 14, 2009 12:12 AM
Scott Mazza
Stewart Title of California - Ventura, CA

Thanks Dennis, I will look into that. Have a great day.

Dec 14, 2009 12:37 AM