Title insurance protects against house's history. (choosing a title insurance company)

When you buy a piece of real estate, it comes with a history. Sometimes it could be a sordid one.

To protect yourself, you'll need a good title insurance policy.

A title insurance company's duty is to research the history or "chain of title" on a property before it transfers to a new owner and then insure that owner against defects that may have occurred in past transfers.

"Title insurance is very much a backward-looking kind of insurance," said William Pittman, president of the North Carolina division of California-based Fidelity National Title Co., which operates in 49 states.

When choosing a title insurance company, look at more than just cost. …