Question - what experience did you have before you were going to become this abstractor and now this loan officer/title closer/signing agent?  I am waiting for Kevin the attorney to answer this one as far as the premiums because its been a long time since I was preparing the docs and closing statements, title policies but just as a thought I believe the difference is the people have already purchased title insurance and the refi does not require them to repay a title insurance premium - just to research from ownership forward for any other liens that may have been placed on the property - that is what I believe is the difference between the original purchase and a refi and the difference in premiums collected but let's hear from Kevin - he would know.