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title: "Title Insurance: Owner’s vs Lender’s Policy | Ondo Real Estate | Ondo RE"
canonical: https://www.ondorealestate.com/blog/title-insurance-owner-vs-lender/
---

# Title Insurance: Owner’s vs Lender’s Policy

Two policies, two insureds. The lender’s coverage is not a substitute for yours.

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Educational

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Owner’s versus lender’s title insurance is a who-is-insured question: the lender’s policy covers the lender’s lien; the owner’s policy covers your title and equity. They are not interchangeable, and the lender’s policy is not “your” policy. Snapshot as of 2026-08.

Title insurance is a contract with exclusions (survey, zoning, later work). This is not a review of your commitment, not a claim, and not legal advice. Read the commitment with the title company.

## Two policies

Owner’s vs lender’s title as of 2026-08. Not a premium quote.QuestionLender’s policyOwner’s policy

Who it protectsA lender’s title policy protects the lender’s lien against covered title defects, up to the loan amount, subject to the policy. Most purchase and refinance mortgages require it. It does not protect your equity.An owner’s title policy protects the owner’s title and equity against covered defects, up to the policy amount, subject to the policy. It is typically optional as a matter of contract — and often issued simultaneously with the lender’s policy. Optional is not the same as “you should skip it.”

When it usually appearsRequired on most purchase and refinance mortgages so the lien is insurable.When both policies are issued in the same transaction, the owner’s premium is often a simultaneous-issue rate, not two full standalone premiums. Title companies quote this. This page does not publish a Utah tariff.

On a later refinanceA refinance usually needs a new lender’s policy (or a substitution/endorsement path the title company offers). An existing owner’s policy from the purchase may still protect the owner, subject to its date and exclusions — ask the title company, not this page.The purchase-dated owner’s policy may still apply to you, subject to date and exclusions — ask title.

Premiums vary by title company even inside the same Utah county. Treat any range as a range.

When both policies are issued in the same transaction, the owner’s premium is often a simultaneous-issue rate, not two full standalone premiums. Title companies quote this. This page does not publish a Utah tariff.

## Utah closings sit at title

Utah residential closings typically sit at a title company, with a deed of trust recorded at the county. Owner’s and lender’s premiums still vary by company. See Utah closing costs. Not legal advice.

Utah residential closings typically fund at a title company, not through a real-estate attorney as in attorney-closing states. Most Utah purchase loans are secured by a deed of trust recorded with the county, not a mortgage instrument. Fee buckets: [closing costs — title, origination, prepaids](/blog/utah-closing-costs-title-origination-prepaids/). Cash besides down payment: [cash to close](/blog/utah-cash-to-close-besides-down-payment/).

## What a commitment is for

- Covered risks and exclusions — survey, later construction, and zoning are common conversation topics.
- Who must be paid off (liens, judgments) before the policy will issue.
- Endorsements the lender requires on the lender’s policy.
After funding, recording and the first payment calendar: [the week after funding](/blog/week-after-mortgage-funding/).

## What this page will not do

- Quote an owner’s or lender’s premium.
- Tell you to skip the owner’s policy as a money-saving trick.
- Give legal advice on a claim or a boundary dispute.

## What happens next

- Read the title commitment with the title company before you waive coverage you do not understand.
- Illustrate ranges on the [closing-cost calculator](/calculators/closing-cost/) — still not a title quote.
- First-time cash map: [first-time hub](/learn/first-time/).

## Common questions

### Does the lender’s policy protect me?

### Is an owner’s policy required in Utah?

## Keep going

[Closing Costs in Utah: Title, Origination, and Prepaids Utah funds at title companies, uses deeds of trust, and has no statewide transfer tax. Recording, title premiums, and tax calendars still vary by county.](/blog/utah-closing-costs-title-origination-prepaids/)[What Happens the Week After Funding Recording, first payment timing, and possible servicing transfer after a Utah title-company closing. Not legal advice.](/blog/week-after-mortgage-funding/)[First-time buyer cash, assistance, and closing How much cash besides down payment, how DPA stacks with gifts, and how Utah closings actually fund. Informational only.](/learn/first-time/)[Closing cost calculator Estimate buyer closing costs, taxes, and prepaids.](/calculators/closing-cost/)[How Much Cash Do I Need Besides Down Payment in Utah? Earnest money, title, origination, prepaids, and reserves sit on top of down payment. Utah closings vary by county and title company.](/blog/utah-cash-to-close-besides-down-payment/)[Start a mortgage conversation What you will be asked, and what a conversation will not promise. This is not an instant approval, a lock, or a commitment to lend.](/qualify/)

## What to do next

Education first. A conversation with a loan officer is how you find out what may actually fit your file.

[Utah closing costs](/blog/utah-closing-costs-title-origination-prepaids/)[Closing cost calculator](/calculators/closing-cost/)[Start a mortgage conversation](/qualify/)

Loan information is provided by Ondo Real Estate (NMLS ID on file). This is not a commitment to lend, a loan approval, or an offer of credit. Rates, terms, and payments shown are estimates for illustration only, are not a quote, and are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and market conditions. You are not required to use Ondo for financing to buy or sell with Ondo. Equal Housing Lender. Program rules, fees, and county loan limits change. Confirm the current published schedule and lender overlays. Nothing here is a quote, a lock, or a credit decision. [Licensing and disclosures](/licensing/)