First American Title Insurance Company is the main subsidiary of First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a Fortune 500 company based in Santa Ana, California, with roots to 1889. It is the second-largest title insurer in the United States, so it is legitimate and financially large. Title insurance itself is a one-time cost paid at closing. It protects your legal ownership of a property against past problems like hidden liens, fraud, or recording errors. There are two policies. Your mortgage company requires a lender’s policy, and you can add an optional but recommended owner’s policy. Two things the marketing skips: you can often shop for title insurance and save, and First American had a major data breach in 2019. Both belong in your decision.
First American Title Insurance Company: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The largest title insurance subsidiary of First American Financial | SEC / company |
| Parent company | First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a Fortune 500 firm | SEC |
| Headquarters | Santa Ana, California | Company |
| Founded | Traces its heritage to 1889 | SEC / company |
| Market position | Nation’s second-largest title insurer (after Fidelity National) | NY DFS |
| Size | Over 21,000 employees; multi-billion-dollar annual revenue | Fortune |
| Product | Title insurance, escrow, and settlement services | Company |
| Notable issue | 2019 data breach exposed consumer records; $1M NY penalty | NY DFS |
| Not the same as | First American Home Warranty; also not First Insurance Funding | Company |
What you are actually buying at closing
Most people meet First American Title once, at the closing table, and never think about it again. That is exactly why title insurance is worth understanding before you sign.
Title insurance is not like your other policies. It does not protect your house from fire or theft. It protects your legal right to own the property against problems that happened before you bought it. Think a contractor’s lien the seller forgot. Or a forged signature in the chain of ownership, a recording error at the county, or a long-lost heir who surfaces with a claim. First American, as the title company, searches the records, fixes what it can, and insures you against what slips through.
Is First American Title a real, legit company, and who owns it?
Yes, it is real, and it is one of the biggest names in the business.
First American Title Insurance Company is the flagship subsidiary of First American Financial Corporation. The parent trades publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FAF, and it is a Fortune 500 company. It is based in Santa Ana, California, and traces its heritage to 1889. By order count and revenue, it is the second-largest title insurer in the country, behind Fidelity National Financial. First American Financial was spun off as its own public company in 2010. So when people ask who owns First American Title, the answer is First American Financial, a large, publicly traded corporation.
Two name mix-ups are worth clearing up. First American Title is not the same as First American Home Warranty. That is a separate subsidiary that sells home warranties. So the class-action questions circulating about home warranties are about that different product. It is also not First Insurance Funding, an unrelated premium finance company that some articles confuse it with.
What is title insurance, and why lenders require it?
Title insurance covers defects in a property’s title, which is the legal record of who owns it. Those defects are things a home inspection can never catch, because they are legal, not physical.
Common covered problems include undisclosed liens, unpaid back taxes, forged or improperly recorded documents, boundary and easement disputes, and unknown heirs. If one surfaces after you buy, the title policy pays to defend your ownership and covers a covered loss. That is why lenders insist on it. Your mortgage company is lending against the house. So it requires a lender’s policy to protect the loan if a title claim ever threatens the property. Title claims are not common, because the title company does most of its work upfront in the search. But when they hit, they can be expensive.
Owner’s vs. lender’s title insurance: which you need
This is the part buyers most often get wrong, so here it is plainly. There are two separate policies, and they protect two different people.
The lender’s policy is almost always required if you have a mortgage. It protects your lender, up to the loan balance, and it shrinks as you pay the loan down. The owner’s policy is optional in most states, but it is the one that actually protects you. It covers your full equity for as long as you or your heirs own the home. Both are one-time purchases paid at closing, not monthly bills. The owner’s policy keeps protecting you for years with no renewal. One detail worth asking about: owner’s policies come in a standard and an enhanced (ALTA Homeowner’s) version. The enhanced policy adds coverage for things like certain post-closing forgery and building-permit issues, usually for about 10% to 15% more. Skipping the owner’s policy entirely to save a little at closing is a gamble most experts advise against.
How much does title insurance cost, including on a $200,000 house?
Title insurance is a one-time fee, and its size depends on your home price and your state.
Most estimates put a combined owner’s and lender’s premium at roughly 0.5% to 1% of the purchase price. According to Bankrate, owner’s policies commonly land between $1,000 and $4,000. First American’s own data, drawing on Fannie Mae research, puts the average owner’s premium near 0.42% of price. That is about $1,337 on a $318,000 home. On a $200,000 house, an owner’s policy alone runs roughly $800. Add the required lender’s policy and the combined bill is often about $1,000 to $2,000, depending on your state and fees.
The key point the number hides is simple. Title insurance is paid once, at closing, and never again. Compared with homeowners insurance, which you pay every year, its lifetime cost is small. It is a one-time closing cost, not a recurring one.
Can you shop for title insurance and save?
Yes, in most states, and this is the tip title companies rarely volunteer. Under federal rules, you generally have the right to choose your own title company, even if your lender or agent suggests one.
How much you can save depends on your state. Some states, including Texas, Florida, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania, regulate title rates. There, every company charges the same premium. You cannot shop the price, only the service and add-on fees. In other states, premiums vary between companies, so quotes are worth comparing. Wherever you are, three moves can cut the bill. Ask for the simultaneous-issue discount when you buy both policies together. Ask about a reissue rate if the seller has a recent owner’s policy, which can save 10% to 50%. And negotiate who pays, since in many regions the seller customarily covers the owner’s policy.
Does First American do escrow and settlement?
Yes. Alongside title insurance, First American provides escrow and settlement services, acting as the neutral third party that holds funds and documents and disburses them when a deal closes.
That also explains a common search: people who received a check from First American Title. Usually that is an escrow refund, an overpayment return, or a settlement disbursement tied to a closing. If you get one and are unsure why, confirm it directly with First American or your closing agent before depositing, since check scams do exist in real estate.
The honest concern: First American’s data breaches
A fair review has to include this. In May 2019, a flaw in First American’s EaglePro application exposed a very large volume of consumer data. Anyone with a document link could view not just their own records but unrelated customers’ sensitive files. New York’s Department of Financial Services later fined the company $1 million over the lapse. First American also paid a separate settlement to the SEC.
Then, in December 2023, a cyberattack forced First American to take systems offline. It delayed closings and exposed data belonging to tens of thousands of people. Neither event makes First American illegitimate, and breaches have hit other title giants too, including Fidelity National. But because title companies hold your most sensitive financial documents, their data-security track record is a fair thing to weigh, and to ask your closing agent about.
First American Title login, phone, payment, and locations
Many searches for the company are really about reaching it, so here is the practical routing.
First American’s consumer and agent services run through firstam.com, which includes a title rate calculator, local office and agent locators, and account access for the specific service you are using. The right phone number and portal differ by role and region. So use the contact details on your own closing documents or the official firstam.com site. The corporate headquarters is in Santa Ana, California. If you are mid-transaction, your closing or escrow officer is usually the fastest route to an answer.
The honest read: is First American Title a good choice?
Here is the part that surprises people: as a homebuyer, you often do not pick the title underwriter at all. Your closing agent, attorney, or lender frequently selects it, and First American is one of a small handful of large national underwriters they rotate among. So the practical question is not really “is First American the best title company.” It is “am I getting a fair price and good service on my title work.”
Where First American is a solid choice: it is the second-largest title insurer, financially deep, and backed by a Fortune 500 parent, so its ability to pay a covered claim is not in doubt. Its scale and technology also make closings smoother for agents and lenders.
What to watch: the data-security history above, and the fact that in non-regulated states another title company might quote a lower price or lower fees. The smart move is not to fixate on the underwriter’s brand. It is to confirm you are getting the owner’s policy, ask for the simultaneous-issue and reissue discounts, and compare fees where your state allows it.
First American Title is a legitimate, major title insurer, not a company to fear. Just remember three things. Title insurance is a one-time protection worth having. You can often shop it. And the brand on the policy matters less than getting the coverage and the price right.
Conclusion
First American Title Insurance Company is the flagship arm of First American Financial, a Fortune 500 company and the nation’s second-largest title insurer, based in Santa Ana and dating to 1889. It is legitimate and financially strong, with the data-breach history as the main caveat. More useful than the brand is understanding title insurance itself. It is a one-time closing cost. It splits into a required lender’s policy and an optional-but-recommended owner’s policy. Together they protect your ownership against the property’s hidden past. Get the owner’s policy, ask about discounts, and shop it where your state lets you.
FAQs
What is title insurance from First American?
Title insurance protects your legal ownership against defects from before you bought the property. Those include hidden liens, fraud, recording errors, or unknown heirs. First American searches the records, resolves what it can, and insures you against covered problems that remain. It is a one-time cost paid at closing.
Is First American Title Insurance Company legit?
Yes. It is the main subsidiary of First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a Fortune 500 company. It is the second-largest title insurer in the country, dating to 1889. It is legitimate and financially large. The main caveat is its data-breach history, including a 2019 exposure that drew a $1 million New York penalty.
Who owns First American Title Insurance Company?
First American Financial Corporation owns it. First American Financial is a publicly traded Fortune 500 company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FAF, headquartered in Santa Ana, California. It was spun off as its own public company in 2010.
What type of company is First American?
First American Financial is a title insurance and settlement-services company. Its flagship subsidiary, First American Title, provides title insurance, escrow, and closing services for residential and commercial real estate transactions across the United States and in some international markets.
Is First American Title a Fortune 500 company?
Its parent, First American Financial Corporation, is a Fortune 500 company. First American Title is the largest subsidiary within that corporation. So while the Fortune 500 listing is technically for the parent, the title business is its core operation.
How much is title insurance on a $200,000 house?
Expect roughly $800 for an owner’s policy alone. Add the required lender’s policy and the combined bill is often $1,000 to $2,000, depending on your state and fees. Title insurance generally runs 0.5% to 1% of the price combined. And it is a one-time cost paid at closing, not a recurring bill.
Is title insurance a one-time cost?
Yes. You pay the title insurance premium once, at closing, and the owner’s policy protects you for as long as you or your heirs own the home. There are no monthly payments, renewals, or deductibles, which makes it very different from homeowners insurance.
Do I really need owner’s title insurance?
Lender’s title insurance is required if you have a mortgage, but owner’s title insurance is optional in most states. It is strongly recommended, because it is the policy that protects your equity and ownership. Skipping it to save a small amount at closing exposes you to potentially large legal costs later.
Does First American Title do escrow?
Yes. First American provides escrow and settlement services in addition to title insurance, acting as the neutral party that holds funds and documents and disburses them at closing. If you received a check from First American, it is often an escrow refund or settlement disbursement, which you should confirm before depositing.
What does Dave Ramsey say about title insurance?
Personal-finance voices, including Ramsey Solutions, generally treat owner’s title insurance as worth the one-time cost. It protects your ownership for as long as you hold the home. The common advice is to buy the owner’s policy, then shop for the price where your state allows it, rather than skip the coverage.
Can I shop around for title insurance to save money?
Yes, in most states you have the right to choose your title company. In rate-regulated states like Texas and Florida, every company charges the same premium, so you can only compare fees. Elsewhere, compare quotes and ask about simultaneous-issue and reissue discounts, which can cut the cost noticeably.
What is the best title insurance company in the US?
There is no single “best,” and you often do not choose the underwriter yourself, since your closing agent or lender frequently selects it. The large national underwriters, including First American and Fidelity National, are financially strong. Focus on getting the owner’s policy and a fair price rather than chasing a brand.
Is First American Home Warranty the same as First American Title?
No. They are different subsidiaries of First American Financial. First American Title sells title insurance for real estate closings, while First American Home Warranty sells home warranty service contracts. Complaints or class actions about home warranties concern that separate product, not title insurance.
How do I contact First American Title or log in?
Use the official firstam.com site, which has a title rate calculator, office and agent locators, and account access by service type. Because numbers and portals differ by role and region, use the contact details on your closing documents. If you are mid-transaction, your escrow or closing officer is usually fastest.
Is my data safe with First American?
First American holds highly sensitive financial documents, and its record here is mixed. A 2019 flaw in its EaglePro system exposed a large volume of consumer data and led to a $1 million New York penalty. A 2023 cyberattack exposed data for tens of thousands more people. It is reasonable to ask your closing agent how your documents are protected.
About this review
This review was produced by the InsuranceGuidances Editorial Team.
Methodology: We assessed First American using SEC filings and corporate disclosures for First American Financial Corporation, New York Department of Financial Services enforcement records, reporting on the 2019 and 2023 data incidents, and independent consumer guidance on title insurance cost and process from Bankrate, Redfin, and the company’s own buyer resources. We route judgments to objective facts rather than crowning any single company “best.” We do not accept payment in exchange for coverage or placement. Ratings, pricing, and rules change; see the review dates above and verify current details before closing.
Reviewed: 2026 ·
Sources
First American Financial Corporation, corporate site: https://www.firstam.com/
First American, How Much Does Title Insurance Cost: https://www.firstam.com/home-buying-guide/how-much-does-title-insurance-cost/
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, First American Financial (NYSE: FAF) filings: https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0001472787
New York State Department of Financial Services, $1M cybersecurity settlement: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/reports_and_publications/press_releases/pr202311281
BleepingComputer, First American December 2023 data breach: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/first-american-december-data-breach-impacts-44-000-people/
Bankrate, How Much Is Title Insurance: https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/title-insurance-cost/
Redfin, How Much Does Title Insurance Cost: https://www.redfin.com/blog/how-much-does-title-insurance-cost/
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, title insurance basics: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-owners-title-insurance-en-163/
American Land Title Association (ALTA), consumer resources: https://www.alta.org/
HousingWire, First American cyberattack coverage: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/first-american-says-system-has-been-restored-perpetrator-stole-data/
