05/05/2025
Real-life example of why you should purchase the Owner’s Title Insurance when you purchase a home. Pay attention to this so it doesn’t happen to you…
I had a client receive a letter in the mail related to an Assignment of Delinquency Notice filed and recorded at the county clerk’s office for unpaid property taxes back in 2019 and 2020. My clients didn't purchase the home until August 2022. The tax delinquency was not even from the seller, it was from an owner before the seller purchased it, so this went back a few owners.
The tax delinquency did not come up when the title company researched the legal chain of title prior to closing, but now it was a lien on my client’s title, and legal action was being pursued against my client in the amount $9,789.64.
Long story short…
The original title search uncovered this at the time of purchase, but a $0.00 balance was showing at that time. My buyers were smart, though, and they purchased the Owner’s Title Insurance when they bought the house (was only a few hundred bucks), so they are covered and they owe nothing. Believe me, this is not something you want to fight on your own. With title insurance, you don't have to fight this on your own. That's why you have the insurance.
No, I am not going to trash someone and say who the title company was. It does not appear to be their mistake, but they have been amazing trying to get this resolved for my clients. Mistakes happen, but good companies own up to it, take responsibility, and fix it, and that’s what they are doing.
BUY THE TITLE INSURANCE. If you have questions about buying or selling a home, call me or text me at 502-500-5952.