Title Insurance Cost Estimator
Estimate title insurance costs for your home purchase.
Calculate both lender and owner title insurance policy premiums by property price.
Title insurance protects real estate buyers and lenders against financial losses from defects in a property’s title — problems such as undisclosed liens, forged deeds, errors in public records, or competing ownership claims that predate the purchase.
Two types of title insurance:
- Lender’s policy — required by virtually all mortgage lenders; protects the lender up to the loan amount
- Owner’s policy — optional but strongly recommended; protects the buyer’s full equity in the property
Premium calculation: Title insurance is a one-time premium paid at closing. Unlike other insurance, there are no ongoing monthly premiums.
Owner's Policy Premium ≈ Purchase Price × Rate per $1,000
Lender's Policy Premium ≈ Loan Amount × Rate per $1,000
Typical premium rates by state:
| State | Owner’s Policy Rate (per $1,000) |
|---|---|
| Texas | $1.50–$2.00 |
| Florida | $3.00–$5.00 |
| California | $1.50–$3.50 |
| New York | $3.50–$5.50 |
| Ohio | $2.00–$3.00 |
Rates are filed and regulated by each state’s insurance department.
Worked example: A $425,000 home purchase in Florida with an $340,000 mortgage:
- Owner’s policy: $425,000 ÷ 1,000 × $4.00 = $1,700
- Lender’s policy (simultaneous issue discount applies): typically $200–$500 additional
- Total title insurance at closing: approximately $2,000–$2,200
What title insurance covers:
- Forged signatures or fraudulent deeds in the chain of title
- Undisclosed heirs or missing heirs who claim ownership
- Unpaid taxes or contractor liens from a previous owner
- Survey errors or boundary disputes
- Clerical errors in public records
What it does NOT cover:
- New liens or encumbrances created after the policy date
- Zoning violations or code issues created by the new owner
- Matters disclosed to the buyer and accepted (listed as exceptions in the policy)