Comparison of Standard and Enhanced Coverage
Standard Owner's Title Insurance Policy insures against loss or damage resulting from:
- Title being vested other than as stated in the policy;
- Defects, liens and encumbrances affecting the title,
- Unmarketability of title, and
- Lack of a legal right of access to and from the land
Enhanced Owner's Title Insurance Policy insures against loss or damage resulting from:
- Lack of actual vehicular and pedestrian access to and from the land
- Forgery, impersonation or identify theft affecting the insured owner's title before OR AFTER the effective date of the policy
- Existing violations of restrictions, covenants or conditions (unless the policy takes specific exception to the violation, as opposed to just taking exception to the restrictions, covenants or conditions generally
- Existing violations of subdivision or zoning laws and regulations or failure to obtain building permits for construction of existing structures (subject to certain policy deductibles and maximums)
- Encroachments by existing structures onto adjoining property, easements or building setback areas (subject to policy deductibles and maximums for boundary walls and fences)
- Damage to existing improvements due to use or maintenance of easements (even those easements to which the policy takes exception)
- Damage due to the use of the land for extraction or development of minerals, water or any other substances (even under rights to which the policy takes exception)
- Supplemental real estate taxes due to construction or a change of ownership or use before the effective date of the policy
- Encroachments onto the land by structures neighbors build AFTER THE POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE other than boundary walls or fences
- The residence with the address shown in Schedule A being located elsewhere (i.e., the house isn't on the correct land)
An enhanced coverage policy also continues coverage in favor of the Trustee(s) of living trusts to whom title is transferred by insured owner(s).
The amount of coverage under an enhanced coverage policy increases automatically by 10% annually up to 150% of the face amount of the policy.
Enhanced coverage cannot be provided on commercial, retail or industrial property, vacant land or unimproved subdivision lots, residential condominium units and some acreage parcels.
POLICY COVERAGE | ENHANCEDHOME OWNER'S POLICY | STANDARD OWNER'S POLICY | LENDERS POLICY ONLY |
---|---|---|---|
Policy increases 10% per year up to 150% | |||
Title vested as described in policy | |||
Title defect not listed on policy | |||
Unmarketability of title | |||
Lack of access | Pedestrian & Vehicular | Legal access | |
Forgery after date of policy | |||
Mechanics liens for work/material not ordered by owner | |||
Forced removal or existing structure (walls & fences subject to deductible and $5000 maximum) | |||
Unable to use land due to restrictions/zoning violations ($25,000 maximum) | Yes, subject to lesser of 1% or $5000 deductible | ||
Claim to title due to existing restriction violation | |||
Forced to comply with existing restriction due to prior violation | Actual loss after 1% of policy deductible | ||
Unable to sell or mortgage due to prior restriction | |||
Encroachment onto property after date of policy | Yes, except for wall and fences | ||
Unable to sell, build, mortgage, lease due to subdivision law violation ($10,000 maximum) | Yes, subject to lesser of 1% or $2500 deductible | ||
Structure damage due to mineral extraction | |||
Forced removal due to prior building permit violation ($25,000 maximum) | Yes, subject to lesser of 1% or $5000 deductible |