Who are we?
Main Street National Title & Closing Services, LLC., (“MSNT”) is an attorney based title company, with a main office/centralized processing center located at 200 Metro Center Boulevard, Suite 7, Warwick, RI 02886. With more than twenty-five years of experience MSNT makes your purchase, refinance, or sale a stress-free, pleasant one.
What does a title company do?
Title companies play a quiet role in a real estate transaction, while handling one of the most delicate parts of the process. We ensure that the sellers listed on the contract own the property being sold and research if there are any liens or judgments against the sellers that attach to the property being purchased. We coordinate with all parties involved in the settlement, search for any potential problems in the transactions, and clear any “title defects” in a timely manner. At the settlement table we collect funds from the parties involved, transfer ownership, and issue title insurance for both purchaser and lenders.
What is title insurance and why do I need it?
For new homebuyers, title insurance guarantees that you are protected from financial loss if a covered defect is found in the title to your home. It offers you information on the status of the title to land before you buy or refinance, protecting you against title claims that may affect the title after you buy. Having title insurance can save you money, time, trouble – and even your home!
There are two types of title insurance: Lender’s title insurance and Owner’s title insurance.
The Lender’s policy is a separate policy which protects the lender’s interest in the property, up to the outstanding balance of the buyer’s mortgage. The loan policy protects the lender against loss due to unknown title defects and protects only the lender’s interest; it does not protect the buyer. The Owner’s policy protects the owners against loss due to any “hidden hazard” that can result in a claim against your ownership. Owner’s title insurance is usually issued for the amount of the real estate purchase. There is a one-time fee at closing, and the policy lasts as long as you or your heirs have an interest in the property.
Owner’s coverage provides for legal defense and any liability or loss that may arise in a title problem that was not uncovered during the title search.
How does title insurance work?
According to the American Land Title Association (ALTA), title companies find and fix problems with the title in 25% of transactions – usually without the borrower or lender even knowing it! In addition, title companies pay millions of dollars each year in claims. Title insurance provides significant value to lenders and homeowners.
Before closing, MSNT searches both our title plant and the public records for all matters which could affect the title. These records include recorded documents, judgments, liens, taxes, easements and other matters that could affect property ownership.
Through careful examination of these records, we determine who definite ownership of the property and what interests may already exist in that property. This process, called a title search, provides early warnings of title flaws that must be dealt with before the property can be sold or refinanced.
In those transactions where title insurance is involved, MSNT must determine insurability of the title as part of the search process. This leads to the issuance of a title policy, which insures the existence or non-existence of rights to the property.
How does title insurance differ from other types of insurance?
An Owner’s Policy is a one-time charge that protects you and your investment forever. Title insurance is substantially different from other types of insurance coverage. Title insurance emphasizes risk prevention rather than risk assumption, so the coverage offers the best possible opportunity to avoid claims and losses in real estate transactions.
Because of the important corrective work that title professionals perform, it is rare for lenders or homeowners to suffer a loss under their title insurance policy. However, even the best title search, performed by the most experienced and capable experts, cannot ensure that no title hazards exist.
Do title companies charge different rates for title insurance?
Title insurance rates are set by state insurance commissions and are based on the purchase price of your property (owner’s policy) and the loan amount (lender’s policy).
Am I required to purchase title insurance?
Lenders will require that you purchase a lender title insurance policy on their behalf, while the Owner’s title insurance policy is optional. However, obtaining an Owner’s policy is an extremely wise and worthwhile investment.
How long does my coverage last?
Your coverage lasts as long as you or your heirs retain an interest in the property or have any obligation under a warranty in any conveyance of it.
If the title company does its job correctly, why should I need to purchase title insurance?
The title examination performed by MSNT is thorough, but limited to public records. Suppose a previous owner recorded his or her marital status incorrectly, resulting in a possible claim by a legal spouse, or a prior owner of your property recorded a forged deed – there would be no way for the title company to know that this document was a fake. At some point, the rightful owner could come forward to claim ownership of the property. Without title insurance, your investment is at risk.