I would agree that current owner searches were mainly used for property reports as opposed to title insurance in the past.  However, around here, nearly every refinance transaction includes title insurance issued on a current owner search.  All of the major underwriters have lowered their title search standards for insurability purposes and this is now acceptable.

Also, I would say that when the work was relied on in a property report/equity line setting, there was a lot less liability involved.  The loan amounts on a refinance are usually much greater than equity lines.  Also, there is more risk insuring a "first lien position" than just issuing a property report for an equity line that is in second or third place.

And as a side note... shame on the PA Supreme Court! 

Best,
Robert A. Franco
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