Title Insurance in Florida
Title insurance is the product that stays with the property after closing day. A search finds what is already on the public record. The owner’s policy is the written promise that, if a covered title defect later surfaces, the insurer will defend the claim or pay according to the policy. Time to Close Title handles the search, the clearing work, and the policies for purchase, refinance, and cash closings from our office at 3087 Anderson Snow Road in Spring Hill.
Owner’s policy
Protects the buyer’s ownership after closing. In Florida it is a one-time premium, not an annual bill.
Lender’s policy
Protects the mortgage lender’s lien. Required on most financed purchases and refinances.
Search first
We examine the public record, list exceptions, and work to clear what can be cleared before you sign.
What title insurance actually does
A home sale transfers more than keys. It transfers whatever legal interest the seller can convey. If a missed lien, heir, or recording problem later challenges that transfer, the owner’s policy is the document that says who handles the fight.
The search happens before closing. The policy is issued because of that search — and because some problems never appear in the record until later. Title insurance is not a home warranty, not flood insurance, and not a promise that the house has no physical defects. It is coverage for the legal ownership you paid for.
Owner’s policy vs. lender’s policy
Most financed Florida purchases involve both. The lender’s policy follows the loan. When the loan is paid off, that coverage ends. The owner’s policy stays with the owner for as long as they have an interest in the property, including after they sell if a covered claim later comes back to them.
A cash buyer does not need a lender’s policy. They still need to decide whether to buy an owner’s policy. Skipping it saves the premium today and leaves no insurer standing behind the deed tomorrow.
What a Florida title search looks for
Before we can issue a policy, we search the public record: deeds, mortgages, judgments, tax status, probate, marital interest, and recorded restrictions. The commitment lists what we found and what must be paid, released, or excepted at closing.
A clean-looking tax card is not a title search. The work is in the recorded chain and in the exceptions we put in writing so you are not guessing on closing day.
What title insurance does not cover
Standard owner’s coverage does not pay for a leaky roof, a bad survey you never ordered, zoning that will not let you build what you hoped, or a wire you sent to a criminal. Those are different products and different processes.
Read the exclusions and exceptions on the commitment before you sign. If something on the list matters to your plans, ask us before closing — not after the deed is recorded.
What it costs in Florida
Florida title insurance premiums are promulgated by the Office of Insurance Regulation under Rule 69O-186.003. The owner’s premium is set by the insured amount, usually the purchase price. On a simultaneous issue, the lender’s policy is often a small additional premium rather than a second full owner’s rate.
On a $300,000 owner’s policy the promulgated premium is $1,575. Other closing costs — search, exam, settlement, recording, and lender fees — are separate line items on the Closing Disclosure or ALTA statement.
Who pays, and how we help
Florida custom varies by county and by contract. In many Hernando County purchases the seller pays the owner’s policy and the buyer pays the lender’s policy, but the purchase contract controls. Read the title paragraph before you assume the other side is covering it.
Open the file with Time to Close Title and we order the search, issue the commitment, clear what we can, and prepare both policies when the transaction calls for them. Call (352) 792-1214 or send the contract through our contact form.
Owner’s vs. lender’s title insurance
| Owner’s policy | Lender’s policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it protects | The buyer / owner | The mortgage lender |
| How long it lasts | As long as you have an interest | Until the loan is paid off |
| Typical when | Purchase (strongly recommended) | Financed purchase or refinance |
| Cash buyer | Still a real decision | Usually not issued |
Frequently asked questions
- Is title insurance required in Florida?
- A lender usually requires a lender’s policy when there is a mortgage. An owner’s policy is a separate decision. It is the coverage that protects the buyer after closing.
- Does an owner’s policy expire?
- No. Florida owner’s coverage is a one-time premium. It stays with the insured owner for as long as they have an interest in the property.
- Can I skip title insurance on a cash deal?
- You can. You are also accepting the risk that a later title defect has no insurer behind it. We still search and close the file. The policy is the part you can decline.
- What does Time to Close Title do on a title insurance file?
- We search the public record, prepare the commitment, work through clearing items, close the transaction, and issue the owner’s and lender’s policies the deal requires.
Related reading
What is title insurance in Florida?
The plain-language explainer for buyers and sellers.
Owner’s vs. lender’s title insurance
Why most financed purchases need both policies.
What title insurance costs in Florida
Promulgated premiums and a $300,000 example.
What title insurance does not cover
Exclusions, exceptions, and what to buy separately.
Ready to open a title insurance file?
Call Time to Close Title or send the contract. We work Florida files from 3087 Anderson Snow Road in Spring Hill.