Role of Title Insurance Brokers

Title Agents

• Title agents are people who work for a title insurance company who perform many tasks and may represent one or mare than one company. A typical title agent will prepare and obtain title searches, examine the current title to a property as well as prepare closing documents. A title agent will also issue any title insurance that is necessary, conduct a purchase closing and disburse any funds that are changing hands.
  
  

Reviewing Documents

• Title insurance brokers have many roles including reviewing a wide range of public documents. These can include various deeds, mortgages and tax rolls of municipalities. Other types of documents that are reviewed include any state or federal court judgments and other legal documents. Searches will need to be performed for these documents, which will require looking through physical files located in a courthouse and other locations.
  
  

Title Insurance

• Individuals or brokers that are arranging for title insurance need to provide for adequate coverage for title insurance. This includes having to exclude certain types of coverages that can lead to losses that could be suffered by an insured. The need to examine titles and determining the insurance coverage that is necessary generally involves more work for the broker or agent that any other type of property and casualty risk.
  
  

Public Record

• Title insurance brokers and agents also have a role by making sure the accuracy of the public record is maintained. The purpose of having title insurance is to protect against mistakes and inaccuracies that may have occurred in the past. This means that as brokers or agents are examining property titles any problems that are found can be addressed prior to a purchase closing and the subsequent recoding of the mortgage or deed.
  
  

Using a Broker

• A title insurance broker can work for one or more companies and can be referred by a real estate agent or mortgage lender. A broker can be used to compare prices and services of various title agencies that are in an area. Individuals should also ask a broker how the insurance premium is set and how the title agency's fees are determined and whether they can be negotiated.