Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

Should first-time buyers get an owner's title policy?

Yes, it is worth considering, especially for a first-time buyer who has never dealt with a title problem before. An owner's title policy protects you personally against fraud, an undisclosed lien or a boundary error that surfaces after closing, on top of the lender's policy a mortgage already requires.

Saskatchewan's system moves title through Information Services Corporation's electronic land registry, which is reliable, but it does not prevent every possible problem, such as a forged discharge from a previous mortgage or a survey error that predates your ownership entirely.

The added premium for an owner's policy is usually modest next to the rest of closing, folded into the legal fees, generally $800 to $1,500, a Saskatchewan lawyer already charges, so the marginal cost of adding it is small relative to what it covers.

For a first-time buyer with no prior experience reading a title search, the extra protection is often worth the modest cost. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

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