Introduction
This topic contains information on general title insurance coverage.
Terms of Coverage
The title insurance policy must ensure that the title is generally acceptable and that the mortgage constitutes a lien of the required priority on a fee simple or leasehold estate in the property.
The title policy also must list all other liens and state that they are subordinate to Fannie Mae’s mortgage lien.
| Loan Origination Date | Title Policy Requirements |
|---|---|
| On or after January 1, 2024 |
The title policy must be written on one of the following forms:
|
| Prior to January 1, 2024 | The title policy must be written on one of the following forms:
|
Effective Date of Coverage
The effective date of the title insurance coverage written on forms that do not provide the gap coverage included in the 2006 and 2021 ALTA policies may be no earlier than the later of the date of the final disbursement of loan proceeds or the date the mortgage was recorded.
Because the 2006 and 2021 ALTA forms provide protection for the time between loan closing and recordation of the mortgage, policies written on those forms may be effective as of loan closing.
Amount of Coverage
The amount of title insurance coverage must at least equal the original principal amount of the loan.
Other Requirements
If a mortgage is registered with MERS and is originated naming MERS as original mortgagee of record, solely as nominee for the lender named in the security instrument and the note, and the lender's successors and assigns, then the "insured mortgage" covered by the title insurance policy must be identified in the title insurance policy as the security instrument given to MERS, solely as nominee for the lender and lender's successors and assigns. However, under no circumstances may MERS be named as the insured of a title policy.
The title insurance coverage must include an environmental protection lien endorsement (ALTA 8.1 Environmental Protection Lien Endorsement or equivalent state form that provides the required coverage).
References are to the ALTA form of endorsement, but state forms may be used as described in Terms of Coverage. As an alternative to endorsements, the requisite protections may be incorporated into the policy. For loans originated prior to January 1, 2008, endorsement forms that meet Fannie Mae’s requirements at the time of origination are acceptable.
Title policies may not include the creditors’ rights exclusion language that ALTA adopted in 1990.
Recent Related Announcements
The table below provides references to recently issued Announcements that are related to this topic.
| Announcements | Issue Date |
|---|---|
| Announcement SEL-2022-06 | July 06, 2022 |