Always Obtain Title Insurance Coverage from a Reputable National Underwriter
July 30, 2011
A title insurance policy, like all types of insurance policies, is only as good as the company underwriting it. So, when you buy any type of title insurance, always use the services of a board-certified real estate attorney or a title or escrow agent whose title insurance policies are underwritten by a reputable regional or national underwriter, such as First American Title Insurance Company, Chicago Title & Trust Company, Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, Old Republic Title Insurance Company, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, or Stewart Title Insurance Company. However, I must warn you that most title and escrow agents are totally clueless when it comes to knowing anything about straight real estate options.
This is why I highly recommend that you purchase title insurance through a board-certified real estate attorney or reputable title insurance company that has a competent real estate attorney on the staff of its underwriting department. Once you have the names of local attorneys or title insurers or escrow companies, you need to contact each office to get the name, title, and mailing address of the person in charge of the underwriting department. Then, you need to send each one a short letter like the sample on page 170, which briefly states that you are a real estate option investor who wants to insure your real estate options with an option endorsement.