What Real Estate Agents Need to Know About Ohio’s New Title Insurance Rates

If you work with property buyers and sellers in northern Ohio, anywhere from Toledo to Sandusky to Cleveland and Akron, you know that closing-cost expectations can make or break a transaction. Your clients don’t like surprises when it comes to costs. 

Ohio’s newly updated title insurance rate schedule matters to your business. From preparing net sheets, writing offers, and negotiating concessions, it will have an impact on you and your clients. You need to be honest and upfront when it comes to costs and set clear expectations early.

A Closer Look at Changes to Ohio’s Title Insurance Risk Premiums  

The updated manual with Ohio's title insurance risk premiums has been filed and approved by the Ohio Title Insurance Rating Bureau (OTIRB). The new premiums are effective for orders received on or after January 1, 2026.  

According to Frank J. Rose III, the First Vice President and Ohio State Counsel for Old Republic Title Company, these changes were necessary: 

“Base rates for Title Insurance in Ohio have remained unchanged since 2002.  The rate structure filed in 2002 by the Ohio Title Insurance Rating Bureau (OTIRB) was based on average valuations of real property at that time, along with considerations for the amount of background work a title agent was expected to perform in a typical transaction.  Since then, real property values in Ohio have roughly doubled.  Further, the number of regulatory requirements title agents must process in a given transaction has increased, leading to additional time and resources that must be devoted to each transaction.  Claims losses have also increased, due in large part to complex internet fraud schemes that did not exist 23 years ago.  All of these factors were considered when OTIRB submitted its proposal for a revised rate structure, which was approved by the Ohio Department of Insurance, resulting in the first increase in rates in nearly 25 years.” 

For most residential resale transactions, the biggest change your clients will notice is in the Owner’s Policy premium of the title insurance. Lender policies have also changed, but these are typically seen as a mortgage requirement. 

Ohio’s Policy Rate Structure for Owners 

Rates are calculated by tiers (per $1,000 of liability). With a minimum premium of $225, the new American Land Title Association (ALTA) owner's policy rates in Ohio are: 

• Up to $250,000: $5.80 per $1,000 

• $250,000 to $500,000: add $4.10 per $1,000 

• $500,000 to $1,000,000: add $3.20 per $1,000 

• $1,000,000 to $5,000,000: add $3.10 per $1,000 

• $5,000,000 to $10,000,000: add $2.90 per $1,000 

• Over $10,000,000: add $2.60 per $1,000 

Please note that the rates are set at the state level and are the same for all title agencies in Ohio. 

As a Real Estate Agent, Are You Ready for the New Rates? 

Title agencies are already warning clients of the 2026 premium increases. Old net sheets may now be wrong for any order dated January 1, 2026, or later. The estimates you once provided buyers should now be adjusted. 

Use this checklist to make sure you’re ready to handle the new rates for your clients: 

• Update your estimates. Any CMA packet, buyer consult sheet, or closing costs handout should be updated so you’re not unintentionally under-quoting title premiums for 2026 closings.  

• Net sheets have changed. If title premiums rise at certain price points, that can affect seller net proceeds, buyer cash-to-close, and how aggressively each side negotiates credits. You need to consider that the change may be enough to require an adjustment in your negotiation strategy. 

• Title charges are negotiable. Who pays which title charges is flexible. In parts of Northeast Ohio, it’s common to see the owner’s policy cost split. Don’t assume that everyone you negotiate with has the same expectations now that rates have changed. 

• Be ready to explain why the rates have changed. In Ohio, the risk premium portion of title insurance is a filed and approved rate. It shouldn’t vary from one title insurer to another for the same policy type and amount. Other fees can vary, like closing/escrow, courier, wire, and exam-related charges. Have an answer ready if the question comes up. Some clients may feel cost anxiety, so be ready to walk through the line items with your client. 

• Potential discounts and credits matter more. When premiums move, discounts and credits matter more. Work with your title agency partner early to identify potential savings before the Closing Disclosure is finalized. 

• More buyers may consider downgrading their coverage. With the higher premium, clients may ask whether an enhanced policy is worth the cost. Take time to help your client make an informed decision. Provide them with honest information about potential risks of downgraded coverage. 

Navigate Ohio’s New Title Rates with a Partner You Can Trust 

The new rates are necessary to keep the title industry viable. “The current rates and rate structure provide the title industry in Ohio with a more appropriate return on the work and risk involved in modern-day title-insured transactions, while maintaining a reasonable, one-time cost to the consumer,” explains Rose.   

Now more than ever, you need to work with a title agency you can trust. With the new rates in place, a trusted title agency can help you: 

• Quote correctly from day one, so your buyer consults and listing net sheets match the current, effective rates.  

• Explain the numbers in plain language, including what’s regulated/standardized versus what’s a service fee and why it exists.  

• Identify savings opportunities early, including reissue/simultaneous issue rules, proper policy selection, and timing.  

• Support easier negotiations by providing tight, written estimates and quick revisions when purchase price, concessions, or financing terms change. 

• Reduce closing-day drama by coordinating with lenders and attorneys so disclosures and final figures align.  

When rates change, your credibility is on the line and your clients need even more help. Partnering with a reliable title agency helps you set expectations confidently, avoid last-minute surprises, and keep your northern Ohio transactions moving smoothly. 

Contact Network Land Title Agency if you have questions or to better understand the new title rates.