.svg)
A hold open or binder policy is a discounted title product generally aimed at real estate investors and/or fix and flippers. It is not a title insurance policy, but rather a commitment to issue a title insurance policy when an investor sells a flipped property within a certain amount of time (generally 12-24 months). The binder shields investors, who don’t plan to hold property for the long term, from incurring the full amount of closing costs.
Hold opens or “interim binders” are generally only used in states where it is customary for the seller to pay for the buyer’s title insurance policy. For example, when an investor purchases a property, the seller pays for their owner’s title insurance policy. Instead of accepting that title policy, the investor can pay for a title binder to “hold open” that policy for 1-2 years, and then eventually pass that policy through to their end buyer.
There wouldn’t be any significant benefit to purchasing a binder in a state where the buyer pays for their own title insurance costs, such as Pennsylvania or Maryland. In this instance, the investor would be responsible for paying their own closing costs when they purchase the property, and their eventual buyer would pay for their own closing costs––eliminating the discount mechanism of a binder.
The fee for a “hold open” is generally anywhere from 10%-25% of the original title insurance premium. Then when you sell the property to a buyer, you only pay the difference in price on the new premium vs. the old one.
For example, if you buy a property in Phoenix AZ with Spruce for $100,000, the owner’s title insurance premium would be $1622 (paid by the person who sold you the property), and you would pay the 10% binder fee of $162. Then, when you go to sell the property for $150,000, the owner’s title insurance premium would be $1855. So, you’d be responsible for paying the difference between the two policies at $233. Your all in costs would be $395 vs. $1855.
If you’re buying properties at scale, it’s easy to see how a hold open policy can have significant effects on your bottom line.
Hold opens can only be used when the property being sold is in the same condition as when you purchased it. For example, if you purchased a multi-family investment such as a duplex, you must sell both units together for the hold open policy to apply. Similarly, if you buy a large tract of land and then subdivide it into separate parcels to sell, a hold open policy would not be applicable, since the condition of the property has changed.
For more title industry insights, continue exploring the Spruce Blog or check out our FAQs.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit vol uptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, total merem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae nugit
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit vol uptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, total merem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae nugit
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt.
