Title Insurance in Florida: Who Pays in Palm Beach vs. St. Lucie County?

Title insurance in Florida protects a buyer or a lender against loss from problems with a property's title, such as an old lien, a forged deed or a missing heir. It is paid once, at closing, and the base premium is set by state rule, so it is the same no matter which company you use. What changes from place to place is who pays for it. In Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County, local custom puts the owner's policy on the seller. In Miami-Dade and Broward, the buyer usually pays. This guide explains both policies, the state rates, the county customs and how a reissue credit can lower the bill.

Key takeaways

• There are two main policies: an owner's policy that protects the buyer, and a lender's policy that protects the mortgage lender.
• Florida sets the base premium by rule. For an owner's policy it is $5.75 per $1,000 for the first $100,000 of coverage, then $5.00 per $1,000 up to $1 million.
• By local custom, the seller usually pays for the owner's policy in Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. In Martin County, custom varies.
• Whoever pays for the owner's policy usually picks the title company or closing agent, subject to lender approval.
• Custom is not law. Who pays is set in the contract and can be negotiated.

What title insurance in Florida covers

When you buy a home, a title company searches public records to make sure the seller can legally transfer it. That search finds most problems. However, some defects do not show up in the records, or they get missed. Title insurance covers you if one of those problems surfaces later.

The Florida Department of Financial Services says title insurance protects against loss or damage from defects in the title. That includes prior mortgages, liens, easements and restrictions, plus competing claims to ownership. Common examples include:

• A lien from a past owner's unpaid contractor or tax bill
• A forged signature on an earlier deed
• An heir who was left out of a past estate sale
• Errors in a legal description or a recorded document

Unlike most insurance, you pay once. The state's consumer guide notes that an owner's policy stays in effect for as long as you or your heirs own the property. For more on the paperwork side, see our explainer on deed vs. title.

Owner's vs. lender's title insurance in Florida

These two policies protect different people, and the difference matters when you read a closing statement.

The owner's policy

This protects the buyer's ownership. It covers the full purchase price, and it lasts as long as you or your heirs own the home. A cash buyer is not required to buy one. Still, most buyers want it, because it is the only policy that protects their own equity.

The lender's policy

This protects the lender's loan, and nearly every mortgage lender requires it. Its coverage is tied to the loan amount and ends when the loan is paid off. It does not protect the buyer's equity, which is why buyers with a mortgage usually end up with both policies.

When both are issued at the same closing, Florida's rate rule sets a low charge for the lender's policy. Under rule 69O-186.003, the simultaneous mortgage policy costs a minimum of $25 when its amount does not exceed the owner's policy. Endorsements that the lender asks for add to that.

How Florida sets title insurance rates

Florida is a promulgated rate state. In other words, the state sets the base premium by rule, and title insurers and agents may not cut it with rebates. The state's consumer guide puts it simply: anyone issuing a $100,000 owner's policy in Florida should charge the same base premium.

Here are the original owner's policy rates under rule 69O-186.003:

• $5.75 per $1,000 for the first $100,000 of coverage
• $5.00 per $1,000 from $100,000 to $1 million
• $2.50 per $1,000 from $1 million to $5 million
• Lower rates apply above $5 million, and the minimum premium is $100

What title insurance in Florida costs at local prices

Let's run the math using these rates. Note that these are base premiums only, before endorsements and closing fees.

• $400,000 home: $575 for the first $100,000, plus $1,500 for the next $300,000. That is $2,075.
• $650,000 home: $575 plus $2,750 for the next $550,000. That is $3,325. For reference, $650,000 was the median single-family sale price in Palm Beach County in August 2026, per Miami Realtors.
• $300,000 condo: $575 plus $1,000. That is $1,575. The Palm Beach County condo and townhouse median was $300,000 in August 2026.

Settlement fees, title search fees and lien searches are separate from the premium. So ask for a full estimate, not just the premium. Our seller closing costs calculator puts these costs next to your other fees.

Who pays for title insurance in Florida, by county

No state law says who pays. Instead, it follows local custom, and the custom is written into the contract. Then the buyer and seller can change it if they both agree.

Palm Beach County

The seller customarily pays for the owner's policy in Palm Beach County. The seller also usually chooses the title company or closing agent. If the buyer is using a loan, they pay for the lender's policy and its endorsements.

St. Lucie County

St. Lucie County follows the same seller-pays custom. So a seller in Port St. Lucie should expect to pay for the buyer's owner's policy unless the contract says otherwise.

Martin County and Hobe Sound

Martin County is listed by local title companies as a county where the custom varies. If you are buying or selling in Hobe Sound, confirm the plan with your agent early and put it in writing in the contract.

Miami-Dade and Broward

Miami-Dade, Broward, Sarasota and Collier are among the counties where the buyer usually pays. This is worth knowing if you are moving up from Broward and expect the same deal in Palm Beach County. The custom flips when you cross the county line.

How the contract handles it

The standard Florida Realtors and Florida Bar residential contract has a title evidence section with options. In one, the seller designates the closing agent and pays for the owner's policy. In another, often used in Miami-Dade and Broward, the buyer designates the closing agent and pays for the owner's policy, while the seller pays for certain searches. So check which box is marked before you sign.

Reissue rates: a credit sellers often miss

If the seller bought the home recently, the buyer's owner's policy may qualify for a lower reissue rate. Under rule 69O-186.003, this applies when the seller has a prior owner's policy, the title agent and underwriter keep copies of it, and the new policy takes effect less than 3 years after the seller's policy.

The reissue rate is $3.30 per $1,000 for the first $100,000 and $3.00 per $1,000 from $100,000 to $1 million. On a $650,000 home, that works out to $1,980 instead of $3,325, if the full amount qualifies. Because the seller usually pays in Palm Beach County, that savings goes to the seller.

So if you bought within the last 3 years, find your old owner's policy now. Your closing folder or the title company that handled your purchase should have it.

Is title insurance in Florida worth it for a cash buyer?

A cash buyer can skip the owner's policy, since no lender requires it. However, in seller-pays counties like Palm Beach and St. Lucie, the seller usually covers that cost. So the buyer gets the protection at little or no cost to them. In buyer-pays counties, the decision is a real cost, and many cash buyers still choose to buy it.

Keep in mind that a title policy has exceptions and exclusions. The state's consumer guide suggests reviewing them before closing. Your closing agent can walk you through anything unclear.

Tips for sellers and buyers

• Sellers: budget for the owner's policy in your net proceeds. Look for your prior policy to check for a reissue credit.
• Buyers: ask your lender for a full estimate of the lender's policy and endorsements. Then compare the Closing Disclosure to that estimate before closing.
• Both: confirm the title company is licensed. The state's consumer guide suggests checking licenses through official searches.
• Both: keep a copy of the owner's policy with your closing papers. You may need it when you sell.

Our post on who pays closing costs in Florida covers the rest of the closing bill, including doc stamps.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for title insurance in Palm Beach County?

By local custom, the seller pays for the owner's policy and chooses the title company. The buyer pays for the lender's policy if they have a loan. The contract can change this.

How much is title insurance in Florida on a $500,000 home?

Using the state's promulgated rates, the base owner's premium is $575 for the first $100,000 plus $2,000 for the next $400,000, or $2,575. Endorsements and closing fees are extra.

Can I shop around for a lower premium?

Not on the base premium, since the state sets it. However, settlement fees, search fees and other closing charges can vary, so comparing full estimates still makes sense.

Does the owner's policy expire?

No. It lasts for as long as you or your heirs own the property. The lender's policy ends when the loan is paid off.

Do I need title insurance to refinance?

Your lender will typically require a new lender's policy when you refinance. Reissue rates may apply if a prior policy exists, so ask the title company.

Sources

• Florida Department of Financial Services, Title insurance overview
• Florida Administrative Code, rule 69O-186.003 (title insurance rates)
• Bayit Title, Who pays for title insurance in Florida, by county
• Florida Realtors and Florida Bar, Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 home sales

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rates and contract forms change, so confirm the details with a licensed title agent or real estate attorney before you close.

Selling in Palm Beach or St. Lucie County? We will build a personalized seller net-proceeds sheet with your title premium, any reissue credit and every other cost. Request your net sheet or check what your home is worth. Buying instead? Talk to a buyer's agent about your closing costs.