Buying a home is probably the most important investment a person will make in his or her lifetime. A buyer will want to have the title insurance policy that best protects that investment against title defects.

The buyer and seller on a real estate transaction will almost always rely upon the counsel and advice of their real estate agent when choosing a title company to handle their sale.

The responsibility of a real estate agent to carefully evaluate each title policy and choose the best one for a client is a big responsibility. Serious consideration should be taken when choosing the title policy.

The following three charts compare the coverage provided by the California Land Title Association (CLTA) Policy and the American Land Title Association Residential (ALTA-R) Policy.

At Fidelity Title, we will issue, at no extra cost, the ALTA-R Policy. As you can see the ALTA-R Policy offers more coverage to the home buyer or investor. If you have any questions or require additional information on these coverages, please contact the Fidelity Coast Title office nearest you.

CLTA Policy.

CLTA Policy
With Homeowner's Endorsement

ALTA Residential Policy (ALTA-R).
Someone else owns interest in your title. Someone else owns interest in your title. Someone else owns interest in your title.
A document is not properly signed etc. A document is not properly signed etc. A document is not properly signed etc.
Forgery, fraud, duress, etc. Forgery, fraud, duress, etc. Forgery, fraud, duress, etc.
Defective recording of any document. Defective recording of any document. Defective recording of any document.
There are restrictive covenants. There are restrictive covenants. There are restrictive covenants.
There is a lien on your title because:
a) there is a Deed of Trust.
b) there is a judgement, tax or special assessment.		 There is a lien on your title because:
a) there is a Deed of Trust.
b) there is a judgement, tax or special assessment.		 There is a lien on your title because:
a) there is a Deed of Trust.
b) it violates a restriction in Schedule B.
c) it violates an existing zoning law.
Title is unmarketable. Title is unmarketable. Title is unmarketable.
  Mechanics' lien protection. Mechanic's lien protection
  Forced removal of structure other than a boundary wall or fence because:
a) it extends onto other land or onto
b) it violates a restriction in Schedule B.
c) it violates an existing zoning law.		 Forced removal of structure other than a boundary wall or fence because:
a) it extends onto other land or onto an
b) it violates a restriction in Schedule B.
c) it violates an existing zoning law.
  Can't use land for a single family residence because such use violates a restriction in Schedule B or a zoning ordinance. Can't use land for a single family residence because such use violates restriction in Schedule B or a zoning ordinance.
  Inflation protection.* Inflation protection.*
You do not have legal right of access. You do not have legal right of access. You do not have legal right of access.
    An unrecorded lien by a homeowner's association.
    Rights under unrecorded leases, etc..
    Unrecorded easements
    Other defects, liens, or encumbrances.
    Pay rent for substitute land or facilities.
    Plain language.
    Available to investors 1 to 4 units.