Lack of access to land and easements isn’t covered by a title policy, and what it means for buyers.

Title insurance: what it covers and what it doesn’t — a practical look for title-minded learners

Think of a title policy as a guardian for ownership. When you buy a home, whether in Waco, Wimberley, or a nearby town, you want to be sure the thing you’re getting really is yours. A title policy is there to protect you from surprises tied to the property’s title—the official record of ownership. It’s not a pep talk, a market appraisal, or a property value forecast. It’s insurance against certain hidden issues that could derail a clean transfer of ownership.

The little quiz you’re looking at asks a straightforward question with a twist: which item is NOT covered in a title policy? The correct answer is D: Property value evaluations. That one isn’t about who owns the land or what claims ride along with the deed. It’s about market value, which is a different kind of risk altogether. A title policy focuses on ownership rights and the legal status of the property, not on what buyers or appraisers think the property is worth.

Let me explain how that distinction shows up in real life—and what it means when you’re reading a policy or talking with a title professional.

What a title policy is designed to protect

To keep things simple, here’s the core idea: a title policy protects your ownership rights by guarding against defects or claims that could cloud the title. When you buy a property, you want to know that:

• The person who sells you the property actually has the right to transfer it.

• There aren’t liens, judgments, or encumbrances that could resurrect a claim against the property after you’ve bought it.

• Public records are accurate and properly recorded.

In practical terms, that means a title policy typically covers issues such as:

• Defects in the chain of title, where earlier transfers or documents were recorded incorrectly or forged.

• Unknown or hidden liens that attach to the property and could threaten your ownership if not addressed.

• Errors in public records, such as misindexed deeds or misfiled documents, that affect the title.

• Certain claims or restrictions that are discovered after purchase but are tied to ownership and transfer.

This coverage is what title insurers are selling when they issue a policy. It helps you sleep at night (or at least sleep a little better) knowing there’s a financial backstop if a title problem surfaces.

Where the line gets blurry and why this matters for your question

Now, the question reads like a friendly checklist. It gives four items and asks which one is NOT covered by a title policy. The answer, again, is D: Property value evaluations. Here’s why the other items aren’t so straightforward, and why the difference matters:

• A. Liens for child support. Yes, a title policy can involve liens that attach to the property. If a lien on the property impacts title or marketability, the policy may protect the owner against those issues. The key point is that the lien’s effect on ownership or transfer is the sort of risk title insurance is designed to address.

• B. Surveying and assessments. This one can be a little tricky. Survey matters—the precise boundaries, encroachments, and the exact legal description—aren’t automatically guaranteed by a standard title policy. Many title policies come with a standard “survey exception” unless you buy an endorsement that adds survey coverage. In other words, surveying issues aren’t assumed to be covered unless you explicitly request the extra protection. The point here isn’t whether surveying is covered in every case, but that endorsements change what you’re protected against.

• C. Lack of access to land and easements. This is a classic example of a coverage nuance that often sits outside the core protection of a title policy. Access rights and easements can depend on physical use rights, local law, and contracts that aren’t strictly about the title itself. If access is a deal-breaker or a critical factor for your planned use of the property, you’ll want to understand how the easements are documented—and whether any issues would be insured or excluded. In many situations, lack of access or an easement problem isn’t treated the same as a defect in the title itself, which is why these topics deserve careful attention.

• D. Property value evaluations. This is the one that isn’t about ownership or transfer rights. A title policy won’t insure that the property is worth a certain amount or that the market will value it the way you’d like. Appraisals, market analyses, and value determinations live in a different realm—the world of real estate economics and appraisal practice. That’s why this item is not covered by a title policy.

A practical lens: what you should expect and what you can ask for

If you’re learning about title insurance, it helps to anchor the concepts with real-world practice. Here are a few takeaways that connect the dots between theory and the kind of situations you might encounter in the field:

• Read the policy with an eye for exceptions. A title policy isn’t a blanket guarantee. It comes with a section on “permitted encumbrances” and an “exclusions” section. Those parts spell out what is not insured. This is where the difference between ownership issues and other kinds of risks shows up clearly.

• Know when endorsements matter. If you’re concerned about survey issues, get a survey endorsement. If you want protection against certain types of access-related problems or if there are unique local considerations in your area, an endorsement can add coverage. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a practical option when risk tolerance is high or when the property use requires tighter certainty.

• Distinguish ownership risks from market risk. The title policy is about ownership rights, not property value. That distinction can save you from misreading the policy and assuming it covers something it doesn’t. If you need value protection, you’ll look to appraisals, market data, or even a separate risk assessment.

• Use clear, local knowledge. Real estate is local, and rules about access, easements, and how liens affect title can vary by jurisdiction. In Texas and specifically around Waco, you’ll find practices reflect state law and regional norms, plus guidance from professional bodies like the American Land Title Association (ALTA). A local title professional can translate the policy language into actions you can take on the ground.

A bite-sized comparison you can keep handy

• What it covers (in broad terms): ownership rights, defects in title, liens that affect title, and issues tied to the ability to transfer ownership cleanly.

• What it doesn’t automatically cover (without endorsements): precise survey matters (unless you add coverage), general market value assessments, and sometimes non-title access issues like certain easements or use restrictions that depend on separate legal instruments.

• What to consider asking for: endorsements that address survey boundaries, certain types of easements, or specific neighborhood or zoning concerns; clarity on any exclusions that jump out in the policy; and how any known issues (like existing easements or access paths) are documented in the transfer.

A few analogies to keep the ideas relatable

• Think of the title policy as a title deed’s safety net. It catches what could unravel the ownership story, not the property’s price tag.

• imagine you’re buying a car. The title protects you against hidden recalls tied to the car’s history, not against fluctuations in the price you’d pay at the lot.

• Access and easements aren’t a glare you can see in the glass—these are more like the roads and bridges you’ll use to reach the property. If those roads or bridges are murky or contested, you want a plan to settle them, even if the title is pristine.

A quick reflection for learners

When you encounter a question like the one about coverage, pause and map the logic. What does the policy aim to protect? Where do the risks come from—the paper trail of ownership or the actual use and rights to access? How do endorsements change the coverage? These questions aren’t just trivia; they’re the way professionals operate in the real world.

A nod to the tools and practices behind the scenes

• Title insurers rely on public records, surveys, and legal documents to assess risk. They’ll check for recorded liens, forged documents, or misindexing that could affect title. They’ll also flag exceptions that aren’t insured, so buyers aren’t surprised later.

• In some cases, you’ll interact with a title company that offers endorsements to broaden protection. Depending on the property and locale, this can be a smart move to close the gap between what the policy covers and what you truly need.

• For those who love keeping things tidy, consider pairing title insurance with a solid survey, a careful review of any easements, and a clear understanding of rights of way in the neighborhood. It all ties back to making sure you can actually use the land as intended, not just own it on paper.

A final thought

Understanding what a title policy covers—and what it doesn’t—gives you a stronger footing when you’re evaluating real estate opportunities. The key takeaway from the question you started with is simple but powerful: ownership protection lives in the title policy, while market value and certain use rights belong in other conversations (and, if needed, other documents or endorsements).

If you’re digging into title insurance topics in Waco or any other place, you’re learning a language that matters beyond the page. It’s about clarity, certainty, and making informed decisions that hold up when the inevitable surprises of real estate pop up. And yes, it’s perfectly normal for some items to land in a gray area—that’s exactly where endorsements and good guidance come into play, helping you tailor protection to the property you care about.

So next time you see a list like this, you’ll read not just for the right answer, but for the story behind it. What’s insured, what isn’t, and why the line between the two matters in the real world. That practical sense—that’s what makes title insurance feel less like a thing you check off a list and more like a prudent, thoughtful part of the home buying journey.