Mary Anne Hartman wishes she had bought title insurance for herself three summers ago...with owner's title insurance, she might already be rid of the... house she thought sold in mid-May. But three months later, she's still the owner - even though she's moved to Wisconsin.

"Five days before closing, the title company for the buyer said there's an easement over the entire lot," said Jan Raphael, a Coldwell Banker Burnet agent who listed the house. Raphael, who wasn't Hartman's agent when she bought the place, said the easement didn't specify its purpose or location.

The easement was for an abandoned city water line between the house and garage and also for a sewer line that was under the driveway.

"The lender's title insurance missed this easement," Raphael said, "Had Mary Anne bought [Homeowner's] title insurance, because they missed it, it would have been their fault."

Hartman can't buy in her Wisconsin town because "my equity is tied up in my house in the Twin Cities."...when she gets that house sold - she'll buy again. "I definitely plan on buying title insurance," Hartman said. "I would highly recommend it to anyone. I'm a living example of why somebody should buy title insurance."

With its newly developed Homeowner's Policy, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) takes title insurance for owners into places it has never gone before.

Burnet Title's sales literature says the Homeowner's Policy covers 29 risks, compared with 14 under the widely used ALTA Residential Policy. Burnet has made Homeowner's its "default" policy - the one buyers get without asking and at no additional charge.

"We are promoting it as a real benefit," said Kathy Langer, executive vice president for Burnet Title - part of Coldwell Banker Burnet (Home Services). "This is the best ALTA product available."

Burnet Title is not the only title company selling Home-owner's...others will sell it upon request, and some may charge extra.

"The Homeowner's Policy is in essence built upon the Residential Policy," said Jim Maher, ALTA's executive vice president. But it takes title insurance into new areas. For example, it insures against any of the basic six risks occuring after the policy date.

Maher called the new coverages a big change because without them, "you can own perfect title to a property that is worthless."

Anybody who buys a home today would be foolish not to get this title insurance," Maher said. "Think of all these added coverages - particularly at the same price... Why bother getting less coverage for the same price?...so this is a no-brainer in my opinion."