Estimate TIRSA Title Insurance Premiums for New York State Properties
Zone 1 (NYC, LI, Westchester, etc.)
Zone 2 (All Other Upstate Counties)
Owner's Policy (Purchase)
Loan Policy (Refinance)
Estimated Title Insurance Premium
*Disclaimer: These rates are based on standard TIRSA (Title Insurance Rate Service Association) filings. Actual rates may vary based on specific endorsements, municipal searches, and recording fees. This is an estimate for informational purposes only.
Understanding NYS Title Insurance Rates
In New York State, title insurance rates are strictly regulated by the Title Insurance Rate Service Association (TIRSA). Unlike many other states where rates can vary significantly between providers, NYS premiums are standardized based on the property location and the transaction value.
Zone 1 vs. Zone 2 Explained
New York is divided into two distinct zones for title insurance rating purposes:
Zone 1: Includes the counties of Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, New York (Manhattan), Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.
Zone 2: Includes all other counties in New York State not listed in Zone 1 (primarily Upstate regions).
Generally, Zone 1 rates are higher than Zone 2 rates due to the complexity and volume of property records in those metropolitan areas.
How the Calculation Works
The premium is calculated using a tiered structure. For example, in Zone 1, the first $35,000 of the purchase price has a fixed base rate. Every thousand dollars after that is charged at a decreasing rate per tier. Common tiers include:
$35,001 to $50,000
$50,001 to $100,000
$100,001 to $500,000
$500,001 to $1,000,000
$1,000,001 to $5,000,000
Purchase vs. Refinance Rates
When you purchase a home, you typically buy an Owner's Policy to protect your equity. When you refinance, the lender requires a Loan Policy. Refinance rates in New York are typically lower than purchase rates, often calculated at a significant discount (around 70-85% of the purchase rate) depending on how recently the previous policy was issued.
Example Calculation
If you are purchasing a home in Queens (Zone 1) for $750,000:
The first $35,000 sets a base premium of roughly $234.
The amount from $35k to $50k is charged at ~$4.84 per $1,000.
The amount from $50k to $100k is charged at ~$4.11 per $1,000.
The amount from $100k to $500k is charged at ~$3.50 per $1,000.
The remaining $250k is charged at ~$3.12 per $1,000.
This calculator automates these complex tiers to provide a precise estimate based on the latest TIRSA manuals.
function calculateNYSTitleRate() {
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('nysPurchasePrice').value);
var zone = document.getElementById('nysRegion').value;
var type = document.getElementById('nysPolicyType').value;
if (isNaN(price) || price <= 0) {
alert('Please enter a valid purchase price or loan amount.');
return;
}
var totalPremium = 0;
// Tiered Rates (Approximate TIRSA Zone 1 Purchase Rates)
// Values represent cumulative math per tier
var rates = {
zone1: {
base: 234,
tier1Max: 35000,
tier2Rate: 4.84, // 35k – 50k
tier3Rate: 4.11, // 50k – 100k
tier4Rate: 3.50, // 100k – 500k
tier5Rate: 3.12, // 500k – 1M
tier6Rate: 2.85 // 1M – 5M
},
zone2: {
base: 206,
tier1Max: 35000,
tier2Rate: 4.26,
tier3Rate: 3.62,
tier4Rate: 3.08,
tier5Rate: 2.75,
tier6Rate: 2.51
}
};
var activeRates = (zone === 'zone1') ? rates.zone1 : rates.zone2;
if (price 0) {
var t3Amt = Math.min(remaining, 50000);
totalPremium += (t3Amt / 1000) * activeRates.tier3Rate;
remaining -= t3Amt;
}
// Tier 4: 100k – 500k (400 units of $1000)
if (remaining > 0) {
var t4Amt = Math.min(remaining, 400000);
totalPremium += (t4Amt / 1000) * activeRates.tier4Rate;
remaining -= t4Amt;
}
// Tier 5: 500k – 1M (500 units of $1000)
if (remaining > 0) {
var t5Amt = Math.min(remaining, 500000);
totalPremium += (t5Amt / 1000) * activeRates.tier5Rate;
remaining -= t5Amt;
}
// Tier 6: Over 1M
if (remaining > 0) {
totalPremium += (remaining / 1000) * activeRates.tier6Rate;
}
}
// Apply Refinance Discount if applicable (approx 70% of purchase rate for simplicity)
if (type === 'refinance') {
totalPremium = totalPremium * 0.70;
}
// Display results
var resultBox = document.getElementById('nysResultBox');
var premiumDisplay = document.getElementById('nysPremiumDisplay');
var breakdownDisplay = document.getElementById('nysBreakdown');
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
premiumDisplay.innerText = '$' + totalPremium.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
var regionName = (zone === 'zone1') ? 'Zone 1 (Downstate)' : 'Zone 2 (Upstate)';
var typeName = (type === 'purchase') ? "Owner's Purchase Policy" : "Loan/Refinance Policy (Estimated 30% Discount applied)";
breakdownDisplay.innerText = "Calculation for a " + typeName + " in " + regionName + " at a value of $" + price.toLocaleString() + ".";
// Scroll to result
resultBox.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}