What can title insurance protect against?

Title insurance primarily protects against defects in the title. This includes issues that may arise from past events, such as undisclosed liens, incorrect legal descriptions, or issues stemming from prior ownership claims. Defects in the title can threaten the owner's rights to the property, potentially leading to costly legal disputes or loss of ownership. Title insurance provides a safeguard by covering these risks, ensuring that the homeowner can defend their right to the property against certain claims.

In contrast, other options pertain to different aspects of property ownership. Homeowner's association fees are ongoing costs associated with maintaining community properties and services, which title insurance does not cover. Property maintenance costs involve expenditures related to upkeep and repairs of the property, and these are also not included under title insurance. Similarly, real estate commissions are fees paid to agents for facilitating the sale or purchase of real estate, which are unrelated to the title itself. Therefore, the protection offered by title insurance is specifically targeted at ensuring clear and marketable title, making it an essential component of real property transactions.