ALTA Warns Alternatives to Title Insurance Increase Lender and Consumer Risk

October 3, 2022

ALTA continues to take the lead in engaging with state regulators, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and lenders about the risks alternative title insurance products including certain attorney opinion letters (AOLs) present to lenders and consumers who need it the most.

As a result of Equitable Housing Finance Plans announced earlier this year by the FHFA, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now accepting written AOLs in lieu of a title insurance policy under limited circumstances.

Since before the announcement, ALTA has engaged with the FHFA and government sponsored entities (GSEs) to help them understand the differences between title insurance and alternative products in the coverage and protection they provide. ALTA believes it is irresponsible for lenders to offer title insurance alternatives that provide less coverage but introduce more risk to lenders and consumers.

ALTA continues to work with the GSEs to ensure that access to sustainable homeownership opportunities is available for all Americans in a way that does not increase risk or undermine the property rights of homebuyers, particularly low- and moderate-income and first-time homebuyers.

Recent ALTA Activity

  • ALTA developed a comparison chart that highlights the more comprehensive protection an ALTA Loan Policy provides versus an AOL with a liability wrap.
  • ALTA sent a letter to FHFA Director Sandra Thompson outlining concerns about the gaps and inadequacies with title insurance alternatives currently under consideration as part of the Equitable Housing Finance Plans, especially as they relate to consumer protection risks.
  • ALTA CEO Diane Tomb is speaking at HousingWire Annual on Oct. 5. about the benefits of title insurance versus the limited protection afforded by alternative products.
  • ALTA gave a presentation to the NAIC Title Task Force about title insurance and alternative products in August, highlighting a number of questions regulators should be asking about these products in the marketplace.

Alternative Products Increase Lender Risk

  • Historically, lenders have preferred the protection of a title insurance policy because it provides the best mix of strong protections and low cost. Lenders considering the use of AOLs or other alternatives must understand the risks they are taking on by not getting title insurance since they will be on the hook given Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s life of loan representations and warranties related to title.
  • One sizable risk is related to items not discoverable in a public records search like federal tax liens, mis-indexed items or HOA liens. An attorney opinion letter does not cover items not shown in a public records search.
  • Another important example of the difference in coverage is fraud or forgery of title documents. Title insurance provides coverage when a seller’s deed was forged or there was fraud with the previous owner’s will. An attorney opinion letter does not.
  • Unlike an AOL, title insurance provides lenders with a defense—including all attorneys’ fees and costs—in a lien priority dispute or other matter covered by the policy.
  • Lastly, unlike title insurance, AOLs might push more consumers into foreclosure since that is a condition to making a valid claim under the service provider policy wrapper.

Lenders Can’t Forget about Homebuyers

The overwhelming majority of homebuyers purchase owners title insurance. However, the AOL product does not meet this need providing no coverage to owners. Should a title issue arise on a property covered by an attorney opinion only, the buyer would need to prove negligence on the part of the attorney to pursue the claim with them. If not proven, a claimant would likely need to pay the legal costs involved to litigate the title matter, posing a financial burden and a significant risk.


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].