From the Blog
Title Insurance in Texas Just Got Cheaper: The 6.2% Rate Cut, Priced
Texas is one of the few states where title insurance premiums are set by the state rather than by the company, so every title company charges the same rate. New rates from the Texas Department of Insurance took effect March 1, 2026, and they are about 6.2% lower than the old schedule, the first cut in over a decade. On a $300,000 home, the owner's title policy runs roughly $1,768 and the lender's policy a flat $100 when issued at the same closing. Here is the honest line-by-line on what title insurance costs in San Antonio.
Texas is one of the few states where title insurance premiums are set by the state rather than by the company, so every title company charges the same rate. New rates from the Texas Department of Insurance took effect March 1, 2026, and they are about 6.2% lower than the old schedule, the first cut in over a decade. On a $300,000 home, the owner's title policy runs roughly $1,768 and the lender's policy a flat $100 when issued at the same closing. Here is the honest line-by-line on what title insurance costs in San Antonio.
Why Texas title insurance is different
In most states, title companies compete on price, but Texas regulates the premium, so the rate is not a place to shop. What you compare instead is service, turnaround, and the fees that sit on top of the premium. The state schedule starts below $100,000 and scales from there: on a $200,000 policy the owner's premium is about $1,274, on $350,000 it runs about $2,015, on $400,000 about $2,262, and on $500,000 about $2,756.
The 6.2% cut in dollars
The new schedule that took effect March 1, 2026 reduced premiums by about 6.2%. On a $300,000 purchase, the owner's policy runs about $1,768, and a lender's policy issued at the same closing adds a flat $100, for a combined title premium of about $1,868 before any settlement or escrow fees.
- Owner's policy on a $300,000 home: about $1,768.
- Lender's policy at the same closing: a flat $100.
- Combined title premium: about $1,868, before title company settlement fees.
Who pays what in Texas
By Texas custom, not by law, the seller pays for the owner's policy and the buyer pays for the lender's policy. That split is written into the contract, and it is negotiable, so read your own copy. The owner's policy protects you for as long as you own the home, and the lender's policy protects the lender, which is why your lender will require it at closing.
The premium split is Texas custom, not law; confirm it in your contract.
What the policy actually covers
Title insurance protects against claims that the title to the home is not what it appears to be: an old lien that was never released, a forged signature somewhere in the chain of title, an undisclosed heir, or a boundary dispute. The owner's policy covers you for as long as you own the property. It is a one-time cost paid at closing, not a recurring bill, which is exactly why it is easy to leave out of the budget and worth planning for.
Written by Phyllis Domingo
REALTOR® · TX License 745926 · 100+ homes sold · Helping families move well in San Antonio and the Hill Country since long before the hard part became normal.
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