Ohio law doesn’t say who pays for title insurance in a home sale, so the cost falls where local custom and the purchase agreement put it. In most Ohio transactions, the buyer pays for the lender’s title policy their mortgage company requires, and the seller pays for the owner’s title policy that protects the buyer’s ownership. That default shifts by region, and every piece of it is negotiable before you sign.
Regional Defaults Across Ohio
Where the property sits changes the usual split. In Central Ohio, including the Columbus area, the seller typically pays the full premium on the owner’s title insurance policy. In Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland and the surrounding counties, buyer and seller usually split the owner’s policy cost. The lender’s policy, along with any other fees tied directly to the mortgage loan, falls on the buyer regardless of region.
None of this is law. A Columbus seller can ask the buyer to cover the owner’s policy, and a Cleveland buyer can push for the seller to pay all of it. What matters is what the purchase agreement says, so raise the question early. A local agent can tell you what’s standard in your county so you walk into the negotiation knowing the baseline.
Which Policy Protects Whom
Before deciding who should pay for what, it helps to know what each policy actually does. The two policies cover different parties against different risks, which is why they’re priced and paid for separately.
The Owner’s Policy
The owner’s policy protects you as the homeowner. If someone later surfaces with a legitimate claim to your property because of a forged deed, an undisclosed heir, or a recording error that predates your purchase, the policy covers your loss. Coverage equals the purchase price.
Under the standard ALTA policy form used in Ohio, that coverage lasts as long as you own the property. It also extends to anyone who inherits from you, a spouse who receives the property through divorce, and estate planning entities you transfer the property into after closing.1ALTA. ALTA Homeowners Policy 2021 The premium is paid once at closing.
The Lender’s Policy
The lender’s policy protects the mortgage company, not you. If a title defect threatens the lender’s security interest in the property, the policy covers the lender up to the outstanding loan balance. The coverage shrinks as you pay down the loan and ends when the mortgage is paid off.2National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Consumer Guide to Title Insurance – Section: Two Types of Title Insurance Mortgage lenders typically require it as a condition of making the loan.
A common misunderstanding: the lender’s policy does not cover the homeowner. If a title defect wipes out your equity but the lender is made whole through its policy, you’re not. That’s why both policies exist, and why the question of who pays for which one actually matters.
What Title Insurance Costs in Ohio
Ohio title insurance premiums are set by the Ohio Title Insurance Rating Bureau and approved by the Ohio Department of Insurance. The current rate schedule took effect January 1, 2026, and is the first rate change in 25 years. Premiums are calculated per thousand dollars of coverage, with the rate per thousand dropping as the policy amount climbs.
Owner’s Policy Rates
- Up to $250,000: $5.80 per thousand
- $250,001 to $500,000: $4.10 per thousand
- $500,001 to $1,000,000: $3.20 per thousand
- $1,000,001 to $5,000,000: $3.10 per thousand
Minimum premium: $225.3Stewart Title. OTIRB Rates for Title Insurance Effective 1-1-26
Lender’s Policy Rates
- Up to $250,000: $4.00 per thousand
- $250,001 to $500,000: $3.10 per thousand
- $500,001 to $1,000,000: $2.90 per thousand
- $1,000,001 to $5,000,000: $2.50 per thousand
Minimum premium: $150.3Stewart Title. OTIRB Rates for Title Insurance Effective 1-1-26
A $300,000 Home With a $240,000 Mortgage
On a $300,000 purchase, the owner’s policy premium works out to $250 × $5.80 ($1,450) plus $50 × $4.10 ($205), for a total of $1,655. The lender’s policy on a $240,000 loan is $240 × $4.00, or $960. Combined, that’s about $2,615 in title insurance premiums before any simultaneous issue discount.
Negotiating Who Pays
Everything about title insurance costs in Ohio sits on the table during the purchase agreement. In a buyer’s market, sellers often cover the full owner’s policy to move the deal. In a hot seller’s market, buyers sometimes offer to pick up more closing costs, including the owner’s policy, to strengthen their bid. Don’t assume the regional custom is locked in; put the ask in writing.
Ways to Reduce the Premium
Whoever ends up paying, a few things can meaningfully cut the bill.
Simultaneous issue discount. When the owner’s and lender’s policies are bought at the same time from the same title company, the lender’s policy is written at a reduced simultaneous issue rate rather than the full standalone premium. The discount can cut the lender’s premium roughly in half, and most Ohio purchase transactions qualify automatically.3Stewart Title. OTIRB Rates for Title Insurance Effective 1-1-26 Check your closing disclosure to confirm the simultaneous rate was applied.
Reissue rate. If the property was insured by a title policy within the last several years, the new policy may qualify for a reissue discount, often 30% to 40% off the standard premium. The seller needs to provide proof of the prior policy, and the same insurer typically has to handle the new transaction.
Compare the full title bill, not just the premium. Ohio premiums follow a standardized schedule, so the insurance itself won’t vary much between companies. Title search, examination, and closing service fees are not standardized, and those can differ a lot. Compare the total of all title-related charges when shopping.4Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Shop for Title Insurance and Other Closing Services
Your Right to Pick the Title Company
Federal law backs the buyer here. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, a seller cannot require the buyer to purchase title insurance from a specific company as a condition of the sale. A seller who does is liable to the buyer for three times the amount charged for that title insurance.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 12 USC 2608 – Title Companies; Liability of Seller
Your mortgage lender has to give you a list of title companies in your area, but you’re not limited to it. You can bring in a different provider as long as your lender agrees to work with them.4Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Shop for Title Insurance and Other Closing Services If an agent or lender is pushing hard for one specific company, you can ask why and go elsewhere.