What is a Title Commitment

Before closing on a land sale — whether farmland, pasture, or rural acreage — your title company will issue a title commitment, also called a title insurance commitment. This document is essentially the title insurer’s promise to issue a title insurance policy once certain conditions are met. Unlike the actual policy that protects your ownership after closing, the commitment is a preliminary report showing the current state of the title, including who owns the property, how it’s legally described, and any liens, easements, or encumbrances that could affect the transfer of ownership. It also lists the exceptions and exclusions that will carry into the eventual title policy unless addressed before closing.

The title commitment gives buyers, sellers, lenders, and their advisors a clear picture of what issues exist on the property and what requirements must be satisfied — such as paying off outstanding liens or resolving recorded issues — before the title insurer will issue the final policy. It helps uncover potential problems early so they can be resolved before closing rather than creating surprises later. Because it outlines title defects, conditions, and exceptions up front, reviewing the commitment carefully allows you to protect your interests and make sure you’re getting clear, insurable title at closing.