When you're buying a home in the DMV, your real estate agent will eventually say something like "you should get a title quote from a few companies." And if you've never bought a house before — or even if you have — you might be fuzzy on what exactly you're asking for, how to compare what you get back, and whether it actually matters.
It matters. Here's how to read one.
What a Title Quote Actually Is
A title quote is an itemized estimate of what you'll pay to the title company at closing. It includes:
ℹ️ Key Points
- —Owner's title insurance premium — the one-time cost to protect your ownership interest against prior claims, liens, or errors in the chain of title
- —Lender's title insurance premium — a separate policy required by your lender; you pay for it, they keep it
- —Settlement fee — the title company's fee for actually running the closing (coordinating the docs, the funds, the recording)
- —Title search / exam fee — the cost to search public records for encumbrances on the property
- —Recording fees — county and state charges for officially recording the deed and deed of trust in the public record
- —State and local transfer taxes — not technically title charges, but the title company calculates them and shows them on the quote
- —A good title quote will break all of these out. A lazy one will bundle them. If you can't tell where the insurance premium ends and the closing fee begins, ask them to break it out.
What Drives the Numbers
Title insurance premiums in Virginia, Maryland, and DC are based primarily on the purchase price and loan amount. Most states — including Virginia — use promulgated (filed) rate schedules, meaning the premium for a given policy amount is the same at every licensed title company. The rates are set by the title underwriter (First American, Stewart, Fidelity, Old Republic, etc.) and filed with the state.
This matters: you typically cannot negotiate the owner's title insurance premium down by calling around to different title companies in Virginia. The premium for a $750,000 purchase is essentially the same at every Virginia title company using the same underwriter.
What you can shop:
ℹ️ Key Points
- —The settlement fee (varies by company)
- —The title search / exam fee (varies significantly)
- —Bundled or "junk" fees (document preparation, wire fees, courier fees — legitimate title companies keep these minimal)
Maryland is similar in that rates are promulgated. DC works differently: title insurance rates in DC are not filed/promulgated the same way as Virginia and Maryland, which means the premium itself can vary more between companies. That makes it worth comparing the full quote in DC — not just the settlement fee — since you may see more variation on the insurance premium line. The short answer in all three jurisdictions: the biggest variable in your total title charges is the settlement fee and ancillary service fees, but in DC you should also compare the insurance premium itself.
How to Request a Title Quote in the DMV
The information you'll need to hand over:
ℹ️ Key Points
- —Property address
- —Purchase price
- —Loan amount (if financing; for cash buyers, note that)
- —Your lender's name (some lenders have title requirements or endorsements that affect cost)
- —Estimated closing date
- —Whether you're a first-time buyer in DC (first-time buyers in DC may qualify for a recordation tax exemption)
- —Most title companies will turn around a quote within a few hours. At Pruitt Title, we generate them same-day.
How to Read the Quote You Get Back
When you receive a title quote, look for these line items:
Owner's Title Insurance Premium
This is the amount you pay for your policy. Verify this against the promulgated rate for your state. In Virginia, the rate schedule for First American and other major underwriters is available publicly. If a quote looks significantly lower here, it might mean they're quoting a different (lesser) policy — or a different underwriter with different coverage.
ℹ️ What Each Line Item Means
- —Owner's Title Insurance — one-time premium protecting you against prior claims or title defects. Required if your lender requires it, recommended for cash buyers too
- —Lender's Title Insurance — separate policy protecting your lender; you pay for it, they benefit from it. Non-negotiable if financing
- —Simultaneous Issue Rate — when you buy both policies at once, you get a discount on the lender's premium. Always verify this is reflected in the quote
If you're buying both owner's and lender's policies together (which is standard in a purchase), you get a discount on the lender's policy. Make sure the quote reflects this simultaneous issue rate, not two full premiums.
Settlement Fee
This is the title company's actual closing service fee. $350–$650 is typical for a standard residential closing in Virginia. Watch for this to be artificially suppressed while "document preparation" and "closing coordination" fees are added as separate line items.
Title Search / Exam Fee
This covers searching the public records for prior claims, liens, judgments, and encumbrances. Can range from $150–$300+ depending on the property's history and the county.
ℹ️ Non-Negotiable Line Items
- —Recording Fees — set by the county and state. Not negotiable. Should be identical on every quote you receive for the same property
- —Transfer Taxes — state and local taxes on the transfer of property. Also fixed by jurisdiction, not by title company
Virginia, Maryland, and DC each have their own transfer tax structure. These are property- and state-specific. Any title company operating in the DMV should be calculating these correctly. If one quote shows dramatically different transfer taxes, ask why.
What to Watch For When Comparing Quotes
Apples vs. oranges bundling. Some title companies present one bundled "title services" line; others itemize everything. A quote with a $250 settlement fee may look cheaper until you see the $200 "document prep fee" and $150 "wire transfer fee" on the same page. Add everything up.
Policy type. Standard owner's title insurance vs. ALTA Homeowner's Policy (enhanced coverage) will show different premiums. Enhanced coverage costs more but covers more — including certain post-policy risks like boundary disputes. Make sure you're comparing the same policy type.
Lender endorsements. Some lenders require specific endorsements on the lender's policy (ALTA 8.1-06 for environmental liens, ALTA 9-06 for restrictions, etc.). These add cost. Make sure any quote you're comparing accounts for your lender's specific requirements.
Simultaneous issue rate. As noted above, confirm the quote shows the combined simultaneous issue rate, not two separate full premiums.
A Note on "Shopping" Title in the DMV
Your lender is required by law to provide you a Loan Estimate within three business days of application, which includes an estimate of title costs. You have the right to choose your own title company for most residential transactions — this is guaranteed under RESPA, the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.
Some agents and lenders will recommend a specific title company. Some builders will pressure you to use their affiliated title company. You can get quotes from multiple companies and choose whoever provides the best combination of price, responsiveness, and local expertise.
What we'd encourage: don't optimize entirely on the settlement fee. A title company that's slow, disorganized, or unfamiliar with your county's recording office can cost you far more in delays, stress, and missed closing dates than any $100 fee difference. The goal is a clean closing.
What Pruitt Title Quotes Look Like
When you request a quote from us, you get a full ALTA settlement statement preview — every line item broken out, no hidden fees. We show the owner's premium, lender's premium, simultaneous issue rate, our settlement fee, title search, recording fees, and transfer taxes. If your lender requires endorsements, we list those too.
We use First American Title Insurance Company as our underwriter — one of the largest and most financially stable in the country.
To get a quote for your DMV closing, reach out directly:
✅ Get a Same-Day Title Quote from Pruitt Title
- —Will Rapuano
- —📞 (703) 859-1467
- —📧 wrapuano@pruitt-title.com
- —📍 1900 Gallows Rd Suite 230, Vienna VA 22182
- —We'll have your numbers to you same-day.
You need the property address, purchase price, loan amount (or confirmation you're paying cash), your lender's name, and estimated closing date. That's it. A good title company can quote you in a few hours.
Is the title insurance premium negotiable?
In Virginia and Maryland, title insurance premiums are promulgated — set by rate schedules filed with the state. The premium for a given purchase price is essentially the same at every title company using the same underwriter. What you can shop: the settlement fee and ancillary service fees.
Why does my title quote show two insurance premiums?
Most financed purchases require both an owner's policy and a lender's policy. These are separate policies with separate (though related) premiums. When purchased together at the same closing, you typically receive a simultaneous issue discount on the lender's policy.
Can I use my own title company in Virginia if my builder recommends one?
Yes. Under RESPA Section 9, you generally cannot be required to use an affiliated title company as a condition of your real estate transaction in Virginia. You have the right to obtain your own title insurance and choose your own title company.
How quickly can I get a title quote?
Most title companies in the DMV can turn around a quote within 24 hours. At Pruitt Title, same-day is standard. Don't wait until you're in contract — getting a quote early helps you budget and avoids last-minute surprises on your Closing Disclosure.
Ready to Get a Title Quote?
Pruitt Title serves buyers, sellers, and lenders across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. We make closing simple.
