Comparison of Standard and Enhanced Coverage

Umbrella Over Home

Standard Owner's Title Insurance Policy insures against loss or damage resulting from:

  1. Title being vested other than as stated in the policy;
  2. Defects, liens and encumbrances affecting the title,
  3. Unmarketability of title, and
  4. 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:

  1. Lack of actual vehicular and pedestrian access to and from the land
  2. Forgery, impersonation or identify theft affecting the insured owner's title before OR AFTER the effective date of the policy
  3. 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
  4. 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)
  5. Encroachments by existing structures onto adjoining property, easements or building setback areas (subject to policy deductibles and maximums for boundary walls and fences)
  6. Damage to existing improvements due to use or maintenance of easements (even those easements to which the policy takes exception)
  7. 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)
  8. Supplemental real estate taxes due to construction or a change of ownership or use before the effective date of the policy
  9. Encroachments onto the land by structures neighbors build AFTER THE POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE other than boundary walls or fences
  10. 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% Icon-yes Icon-no Icon-no
Title vested as described in policy Icon-yes Icon-yes Icon-no
Title defect not listed on policy Icon-yes Icon-yes Icon-no
Unmarketability of title Icon-yes Icon-yes Icon-no
Lack of access Pedestrian & Vehicular Legal access Icon-no
Forgery after date of policy Icon-yes Icon-no Icon-no
Mechanics liens for work/material not ordered by owner Icon-yes Icon-no Icon-no
Forced removal or existing structure (walls & fences subject to deductible and $5000 maximum) Icon-yes Icon-no Icon-no
Unable to use land due to restrictions/zoning violations ($25,000 maximum) Yes, subject to lesser of 1% or $5000 deductible Icon-no Icon-no
Claim to title due to existing restriction violation Icon-yes Icon-no Icon-no
Forced to comply with existing restriction due to prior violation Actual loss after 1% of policy deductible Icon-no Icon-no
Unable to sell or mortgage due to prior restriction Icon-yes Icon-no Icon-no
Encroachment onto property after date of policy Yes, except for wall and fences Icon-no Icon-no
Unable to sell, build, mortgage, lease due to subdivision law violation ($10,000 maximum) Yes, subject to lesser of 1% or $2500 deductible Icon-no Icon-no
Structure damage due to mineral extraction Icon-yes Icon-no Icon-no
Forced removal due to prior building permit violation ($25,000 maximum) Yes, subject to lesser of 1% or $5000 deductible Icon-no Icon-no