Title-Insurer Fees Draw Scrutiny

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203739404574292542488539828.html

An excerpt:

"Charges vary widely around the country. In Texas, for instance, the current cost of basic title coverage for a $250,000 home-purchase loan is $1,644. That is supposed to include the cost of searching for and examining title records and related tasks, Texas insurance regulators say, but they warn that title agents sometimes tack on unjustified fees. In Iowa, the costs of similar coverage—including fees for lawyers and title researchers—range from around $500 to $800. Unlike the rest of the nation, Iowa has a state agency that provides title insurance."