Updated October 29, 2026
In Orange County, the seller customarily pays for the buyer's owner's title insurance policy, and the buyer pays for the lender's policy. It's a one-time premium paid at closing. The standard California purchase agreement calls for the more complete CLTA/ALTA Homeowner's Policy when it's available, and two title companies' filed rates for that policy run about $3,300 to $3,500 on a $1.5 million sale and about $4,600 to $4,900 on a $3 million sale. Rates are filed by each company, so they vary, and who pays is negotiable. For a seller, a title problem found late in escrow usually costs more than the premium, so order the preliminary title report early.
Who pays what in Orange County
Cost | Customarily paid by |
|---|---|
Owner's title insurance policy | Seller |
Lender's title insurance policy | Buyer (per the standard purchase agreement) |
Escrow fees | Split between buyer and seller |
County documentary transfer tax ($1.10 per $1,000 of price) | Seller |
Source: Ticor Title's 2026 California Customary Practices Guide, Orange County row. The California Department of Insurance's title insurance guide says the same: "In Southern California, the seller is usually responsible for paying the title insurance premium." Irvine has no city transfer tax. Who pays is negotiable and is set in the purchase contract.
What it costs
Title insurers must file their rate schedules with the Insurance Commissioner (Insurance Code 12401.1), so rates aren't set by the state and differ between companies. Two filed schedules as examples:
Sale price | Stewart Title, homeowner's policy | Old Republic Title, homeowner's policy | Stewart / Old Republic, standard owner's policy |
|---|---|---|---|
$1,500,000 | $3,287 | $3,465 | $2,988 / $3,150 |
$2,000,000 | $3,947 | $4,153 | $3,588 / $3,775 |
$3,000,000 | $4,640 | $4,882 | $4,218 / $4,438 |
Sources: Stewart Title of California's residential rate booklet (effective July 2024) and Old Republic Title's California premium schedule (effective March 2025; the $2 million and $3 million rows are on later pages of the same schedule). Neither schedule is specific to Orange County. In both, the homeowner's policy is 10% more than the standard policy. Escrow fees are separate.
On a $1.5 million sale, a premium around $3,300 to $3,500 is about 0.2% of the price, a small part of the roughly 1% we use as a planning figure for escrow and title together in our selling costs guide. Get a written estimate from escrow for your actual numbers.
What the policy covers
A title policy covers problems with ownership that existed before the policy was issued, such as a forged deed in the chain of title, an unknown heir or a recorded lien that was missed. There are three common levels for a home:
Policy | What it adds |
|---|---|
CLTA standard owner's policy | Covers matters in the public record: forgery, recorded liens, defects in recorded documents, lack of legal access |
Extended coverage | Adds risks a records search won't show, such as unrecorded easements, parties in possession and matters a survey would reveal |
CLTA/ALTA Homeowner's Policy, for 1–4 unit homes owned by individuals or family trusts | Includes the extended items, plus coverage for some problems arising after the policy date, such as post-policy forgery, certain permit, zoning and setback violations (subject to a deductible and cap), and an automatic increase in coverage up to 150% of the policy amount over five years |
Sources: Stewart Title's homeowner's policy comparison and Old Republic's policy comparison. Under the standard C.A.R. purchase agreement, the buyer gets a CLTA/ALTA Homeowner's Policy if one is available, and a standard policy only if it isn't; if the buyer chooses a different policy, the buyer pays any difference.
Does the seller's payment protect the seller?
Not directly. The owner's policy you pay for insures the buyer. Your own protection for problems from before you bought is the owner's policy issued when you bought the home, if you have one. Keep that policy with your closing papers.
What to do before you list
Order the preliminary title report as early as you can, and read it with your agent. It shows what's recorded against the home today: your mortgage, any home equity line you never formally closed, contractor (mechanic's) liens, judgments, unpaid HOA assessments and recorded easements. Anything that has to be paid off or removed is easier to handle before you're in escrow than in the last week. If your home has unpermitted work, see open permits when selling.
FAQ
Who pays for title insurance in Orange County?
By custom, the seller pays for the buyer's owner's policy and the buyer pays for the lender's policy. It's negotiable.
How much is title insurance on a $1.5 million home in Irvine?
It depends on the title company. Two filed schedules show about $3,300 to $3,500 for the homeowner's policy the standard contract calls for, on a $1.5 million sale. Ask escrow for an estimate on your home.
Are title insurance rates set by the state?
No. Each title company files its own rates with the California Department of Insurance, so rates vary between companies.
What's the difference between CLTA and ALTA title insurance?
The CLTA standard policy covers matters in the public record. Extended and homeowner's policies add risks the records won't show, such as unrecorded easements and some survey matters, and the homeowner's policy adds certain post-policy coverage.
Does the owner's policy I pay for protect me as the seller?
No. It insures the buyer. Your protection is the policy issued when you bought.
Want an itemized estimate of what you'll pay to sell, including title and escrow? Get your home value, and we'll get an escrow estimate on your home before you list.
About Irene and Ricky Zhang: RealTrends Verified ranks Irene and Ricky Zhang the #1 small team in Irvine by both sales volume and transaction sides (2026 City Rankings, based on 2025 production). Rates and customs are from the title companies and sources linked above, as of October 2026.
