Estimate the cost of owner's and lender's title insurance policies based on your home purchase price and loan amount.
Title insurance protects against defects in a property's ownership history — undisclosed liens, forged signatures, unpaid taxes, or fraud that could threaten your legal claim to the home. Unlike other insurance, it's a one-time premium paid at closing, not a recurring cost.
This calculator uses a simplified national-average rate (roughly $5 per $1,000 of purchase price for the owner's policy, and $2.50 per $1,000 of loan amount for the lender's policy) — actual rates vary significantly by state, since some states regulate title insurance rates directly and others allow competitive pricing.
Lender's title insurance is virtually always required if you're financing the purchase. Owner's title insurance is optional but strongly recommended — it's the only policy that protects your own equity in the home, not just the bank's.
It varies by state and local custom. In some states the seller customarily pays for the owner's policy, in others the buyer pays for both policies. Check local convention or ask your closing agent.
Yes — unlike homeowners or life insurance, title insurance is paid once at closing and covers you for as long as you (or your heirs) hold an interest in the property.