Your numbers
Estimated title charges
Estimate only. Owner's policy computed on the TIRBOP Basic Rate (sale) schedule. Each tier bills per $1,000 or fraction thereof. Excludes endorsements, the CPL, settlement and escrow fees, recording, transfer taxes and any lender charges. Reissue and refinance transactions use a different, lower schedule.
Want this calculator on your own site?
If you run a title agency or a real estate practice in Pennsylvania, you can embed this exact calculator on your website free — your branding, your colors, your leads. We keep the rate tables current so yours never goes stale when the TIRBOP changes them.
How Pennsylvania title insurance rates work
Pennsylvania is a filed rate state. TIRBOP — the Title Insurance Rating Bureau of Pennsylvania — publishes one rate manual that member companies use, so shopping between agencies does not change the basic premium. What varies is the settlement fee, the CPL and the endorsements.
The schedule is cumulative and billed per $1,000 or fraction thereof. The first $30,000 of liability carries a flat $569. Each band above that is charged at its own rate on the portion of the policy falling inside it, then added together — which is why the effective rate falls as the policy grows.
A purchase uses the Basic Rate shown here. A refinance or a qualifying reissue uses the lower non-sale schedule, and a property reinsured within ten years may qualify for a further discount. Ask your agency which applies before you budget.
| Policy amount | Owner's policy premium |
|---|---|
| $100,000 | $1,025 |
| $200,000 | $1,595 |
| $300,000 | $2,165 |
| $400,000 | $2,735 |
| $500,000 | $3,305 |
| $750,000 | $4,445 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,585 |
Figures computed from the TIRBOP schedule effective August 1, 2024. Source: Title Insurance Rating Bureau of Pennsylvania.
Who pays for title insurance in Pennsylvania?
In most of Pennsylvania the buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy, which is the opposite of much of the country. It is custom rather than law, and the agreement of sale governs.
Pennsylvania also charges a realty transfer tax — 1% to the Commonwealth plus a local rate that varies by municipality and school district, commonly bringing the total to 2%, and higher in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It is customarily split between buyer and seller. That tax is not included in the estimate above; confirm the local rate for the municipality where the property sits.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance on a $300,000 house in Pennsylvania?
$2,165 for the owner's policy on a purchase, under the TIRBOP Basic Rate schedule. A refinance or qualifying reissue uses a lower schedule.
Do all Pennsylvania title companies charge the same?
The basic premium is the same, because TIRBOP files one rate manual used across the state. Settlement fees, CPL charges and endorsements are not filed and do vary between agencies.
Who pays for title insurance in Pennsylvania?
Customarily the buyer pays for the owner's policy in most of Pennsylvania — the reverse of many states. The agreement of sale controls.
What is the Pennsylvania realty transfer tax?
1% to the Commonwealth plus a local rate set by the municipality and school district, commonly 1% more, and higher in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It is customarily split between the parties.
Is a refinance cheaper than a purchase policy?
Yes. Refinances and qualifying reissues use TIRBOP's non-sale schedule, which is lower at every tier than the Basic Rate shown here.
Can I put this Pennsylvania calculator on my own title agency website?
Yes. Title Engine provides it as a free embed for title agencies and real estate law firms, branded to your site, and we keep the rate tables current when TIRBOP amends them.
What is the difference between the Basic Rate and the Reissue Rate in Pennsylvania?
The Basic Rate applies to a standard purchase. Reissue and refinance transactions use a lower non-sale schedule where the property was previously insured within the qualifying period, and a copy of the prior policy is generally required to claim it.
Are settlement fees regulated in Pennsylvania?
No. TIRBOP files the title insurance premium, so the basic premium is the same at every agency, but settlement fees, CPL charges and endorsements are set by the individual agency and do vary.