If you’re getting a mortgage, you’ll almost always need a lender’s title insurance policy to close on a new construction home. Owner’s title insurance is usually optional, but many buyers still choose it because “new” construction can still have title risks tied to the land, paperwork, and unpaid contractor bills.

The signs of home title theft are often subtle and discovered only after reviewing public records or receiving unexpected correspondence. Home title theft refers to unauthorized changes, filings, or claims involving a property’s title, which is the legal record establishing ownership rights.