See
the sample Owner's Policy form and Lender's
Policy form.
See
sample Schedules A and Schedule B for hints (in
italics) on where to obtain information to be
inserted into the Policy.
Following
is an overview of the types of Policies offered
and contents of basic ALTA Policy forms.
Types
of Policies:
Owner's
Policy
An Owner's Policy insures an owner with
respect to the title to the subject property.
The Policy can be used for residential or
commercial properties, or various other
interests in real estate. The coverage
remains in effect as long as the insured, or
heirs or devisees of the insured retain an
interest in the subject property or remain
liable under warranties given in the sale of
that property. The minimum amount of coverage
is generally the full purchase price of real
estate, including improvements.
Residential/Plain
Language Policy
Insures the owner of a one to four family
residential dwelling, residential lot, or
condominium unit. The Policy is an
abbreviated short form version of the ALTA
Loan Policy, incorporating all the terms and
provisions of the ALTA Loan Policy and is
designed to be delivered to the lender at
closing. The Policy contains blanket
exceptions to taxes, covenants and
restrictions, easements, reservations of
minerals or mineral rights, and offers
certain affirmative assurances with respect
to those exceptions desired by lenders. The
Policy also includes an addendum, which can
be used to set forth additional exceptions.
The Policy is designed so that certain ALTA
endorsements may be specified.
Loan
Policy
Insures that the lender providing a
Mortgage Lien secured by the land, specific
to the title of the subject property; as well
as the validity and the priority of the
respective Mortgage Lien. Coverage usually is
in the amount of the mortgage loan and the
amount of coverage decreases as the Mortgage
is paid.
Construction
Loan Policy
Insures a lender providing a loan secured
by a Mortgage on the land, and for the
purpose of financing construction on that
land, with respect to title of the subject
property, as well as the validity and
priority of the Mortgage Lien.
This Policy is similar to the ALTA Loan
Policy, except that Mechanic's Lien coverage
is not furnished by the base policy, but
rather by one of four endorsement forms
designed to be used, depending on state law,
with the ALTA Construction Loan Policy.
Residential
Short Form Loan Policy
Insures a lender making a loan secured by
a Mortgage on land with respect to the title
of the subject property, and is similar to a
Loan Policy. On a short form version of the
ALTA Loan Policy, you check the boxes on the
Short Form Policy only for the endorsements
which were requested and for which you were
paid. The Addendum will be attached if you
need to add subordinate items, or if you must
set out an encroachment that the Form 100
will not cover and for which the premium has
been collected.
Leasehold
Policy
The Leasehold Policy is identical to the
Owner's Policy except:
-
In Schedule A the estate or interest in
the land is described as "the leasehold
estate."
- A section has been added to Schedule A
to describe the leasehold term
insured.
- Schedule B is the same.
- The lease must be recorded and will be
shown in Schedule B of the Policy as an
exception to title.
- If the tenant purchases the property,
the Policy can be converted to a standard
owner's form.
- Charges for the Leasehold Policy are
based upon the full value of the
leasehold.
2006
ALTA Policies
The
Basic ALTA Policy Form
Policy
Jacket
Insuring
provisions - Extent of Coverage
The Insuring Provisions detail specific
matters that are covered by the Policy and
states the amount of loss insured against.
Matters covered are:
(1) Title of the property is as specified in
the Policy.
(2) Defects or encumbrances on the title not
excepted in the Policy.
(3) Purchaser has legal access to the
property.
(4) Title is marketable.
The
Policy insures over other risks such
as:
(1)
Defects disclosed by public record such
as:
-
Liens
- Restrictive covenants
- Break in the chain of title
- Faulty acknowledgements and
(2)
Hidden defects not disclosed by public record
such as:
-
Forgery
- Misrepresentation of marital status
- Loss of title because of adverse
possession
- Minor, mental incapacity
- Other coverage added by using
endorsement
Exclusions
from coverage (2nd page of jacket) (4
paragraphs) The exclusions from coverage set forth
those matters not covered by the Policy.
Conditions
and Stipulations - (2nd page of jacket)
(16-17 paragraphs)
Conditions and Stipulations detail the
contractual relationship between the insurer
and the insured.
Member
name, address, telephone number and
signature
Insert the agent's name and member number
where specified.
Schedule
A and Schedule B, Part 1 and B, Part II of an
Owner's Policy should be completed as
follows:
Policy
Number
The number of the Policy from the jacket
is inserted in the space provided. When the
Policy is completed, the number appearing on
Schedule A should be the same as the number
on the Policy Jacket.
Amount
of Insurance
The amount of insurance is the purchase
price or fair market value of the
property.
Date
of Policy
The effective date of the policy should be
the month, day, year and time of day (7:45
AM) and must be the day after recording of
the instrument on which the exposure is
based.
Paragraph
1 - Name of the Insured
Insert the name of the grantee in the
Deed, or the Lessee in the Lease, or the
Vendee in a Contract for Deed. (Do not show
any reference to tenancy.) Show the name
exactly as it appears on the Conveyance
Deed.
Paragraph
2 - Vesting
Insert here how the title to the property
is held. In most cases this will be "fee
simple".
Paragraph
3 - Owners of Record
Enter the name or names of the owner(s)
of record.
Paragraph
4 - County
Enter the county name in which the
property being insured is located.
Legal
description of the property
The complete legal description of the
property must be shown. Include the county
and the State of Colorado in the description.
If the description is according to a recorded
plat, include the lot number, block number,
name of the subdivision, plat book and page
and where it was recorded (if known).
Countersigned
The city and state where the policy is signed
may be inserted here.
Member's
signature
The agent's signature goes in the space
provided.
Member's
number
The agent's ATGF member number goes in
the space provided.
Schedule
B, Part 1
Details
the exceptions to coverage - Some are
pre-printed and some will be typed by the
agent. Pre-printed exceptions include:
(1)
Rights or claims of parties in
possession.
(2) Easements not shown by public
record.
(3) Boundary and encroachment
conflicts.
(4) Mechanic's Liens.
(5) Unpatented mining claims and water
rights.
(6) Unpaid taxes.
(7) Other exceptions should be added as
prudent.
Items
1-4 may be insured over if an endorsement
Form 100 is acquired. The Form 100 provides
for the following:
(1)
Claims of parties - If an affidavit was
secured.
(2) Matters disclosed by survey - If a
survey was secured.
(3) Mechanic's Liens - If affidavits were
secured from the seller and purchaser that
no work has been done on the property
within the past six months.
(4) Taxes and special assessments - If
affidavits were secured by municipalities
having jurisdiction over the property
saying that taxes have been paid.
Schedule
B, Part II
Anything which should be subordinate to the
first Deed of Trust being insured should be
listed here as an exception to coverage.
Schedule
A and Schedule B, Part I and B, Part II of a
Lenders Policy should be completed as
follows:
Date
of Policy
The effective date of the Policy should be
the month, day, year and time of the day
through which title has been examined, and
must be immediately after the time of
recording the instrument on which the
exposure is based.
Paragraph
1 - Name of Insured
The lender will typically indicate how it
wishes its name to appear in the Policy.
Paragraph
2 - Vesting
State the type of estate owned by the
mortgagor that is the subject of the Mortgage
or Deed of Trust (e.g. Fee Simple,
Leasehold).
Paragraph
3 - Owner of Record
State the name(s) of the owner of record of
the estate or interest encumbered by the
insured Deed of Trust. As with the Owner's
Policy, do not show tenancy.
Paragraph
4 - Insured Interest
Enter the complete recorded information of
the Deed of Trust and any assignments covered
by the Policy. Describe in detail the
recording information of the instrument such
as date, book and page, reception number and
the amount of the debt secured.
Paragraph
5 - Legal Description
The complete legal description of the
property, which is the security for the loan,
must be entered here. Include the county and
State of Colorado in the description.
Countersigned
The city and state where the Policy is signed
may be inserted here.
Agent
Signature
The same individual who signs the Policy
Jacket must sign this schedule.
Member
Number
The ATGF member number of the attorney should
be inserted in the space provided.
Schedule
B, Part I
File
No. and Policy No.
The file number is either the ATGF number or
the number that the agent has assigned the
transaction. The Policy number should be the
same as the serialized Policy number on the
lower right hand corner of the Policy
Jacket.
Paragraphs
1 through 4 details the exceptions from
coverage as follows:
(1)
Rights or claims of parties in
possession.
(2) Easements not of public record.
(3) Discrepancies and conflicts with
boundary lines and encroachments.
(4) Liens not shown by the public
records.
Paragraphs
1 though 4 are pre-printed exceptions in an
ALTA Loan Policy form but may be insured over
if an endorsement Form 100 is obtained. If a
Form 100 is obtained, that information should
be noted under paragraph 4 of the
Exceptions.
Additional
Exceptions
In addition to the pre-printed exceptions,
the agent must add the specific items
encumbering or acting as liens against the
property that are superior in priority to the
lender's Deed of Trust. Note that all items
added to Schedule B should be consecutively
numbered.
Schedule
B, Part II
Subordinate
Liens
Enter here any Deeds of Trust or Assignments
of Rent that were recorded after the first
Deed of Trust and any other encumbrance which
is subordinate to the Deed of Trust being
insured.