Who Pays for Title Insurance and Escrow Fees When You Buy a Home in Pullman, Washington Versus Moscow, Idaho?

In both Pullman and Moscow, a home purchase usually involves two title policies. The lender's policy protects the lender's loan and is required by most lenders, while the owner's policy protects the buyer's ownership and is the buyer's own choice; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Pioneer Title Company both describe it this way, and Pioneer's buyer guide says a loan policy provides no coverage or benefit for the buyer. On the Washington side, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner says that generally most sellers pay for the owner's policy, and the Fidelity National Title laws and customs guide dated August 2026 lists Washington as seller pays the standard owner's policy, buyer pays the lender's policy, and closing fees divided equally unless the agreement says otherwise. On the Idaho side, the same Fidelity guide lists seller pays the owner's policy, buyer pays the lender's policy, and closing fees negotiable but typically split equally, and Latah County Title Company's own closing costs page says its settlement fee is split 50/50 unless otherwise instructed in the purchase and sale agreement. These are customs, not rules; the purchase agreement can allocate any of them differently, and the title or escrow company quotes the actual premiums and fees for the transaction.

The context on the Palouse

Whitman County (Pullman) and Latah County (Moscow) are served by title and escrow offices on both sides of the state line. Pioneer Title Company has a Pullman office at 840 SE Bishop Blvd, Suite 102, and a Moscow office at 674 Pullman Road. Stewart Title has a Pullman office serving Whitman County. Latah County Title Company, at 106 E 2nd St in Moscow, has been locally owned since 1895 and posts a rate sheet and closing costs page on its site. As of September 25, 2026, Latah County Title is the only one of these local offices whose website states a customary split, and only for its settlement fee (50/50 unless the purchase and sale agreement instructs otherwise); the Pioneer and Stewart local pages do not say who pays. Washington's Office of the Insurance Commissioner also notes that the buyer can choose the title insurance company. Idaho's Department of Insurance says title insurance is not required by the state, but a lender may require a lender's policy. On a financed purchase, the buyer's share shows up on page 2 of the Closing Disclosure under Closing Cost Details: the lender's title insurance, settlement agent fee, and title search appear in Section C (Services Borrower Did Shop For) with a Title prefix, and the owner's title insurance appears in Section H (Other) marked optional. Each line has Borrower-Paid and Seller-Paid columns, so a seller-paid owner's policy shows in the Seller-Paid column rather than in the buyer's total. The CFPB notes that the title insurance amount on the Closing Disclosure can differ from the Loan Estimate depending on the state, and that this does not necessarily mean the wrong amount was charged.

Practical steps

1. Read the title and escrow section of your purchase and sale agreement before you sign it, and ask which side is paying the owner's policy, the lender's policy, and the escrow or settlement fee. If the form is silent or the split is not what you expect, ask for it to be written in.
2. Ask the escrow officer for the title and escrow rate sheet or a written quote for your price and loan amount. Latah County Title posts a rate sheet on its website; Pioneer Title and Stewart Title in Pullman quote on request. Do not rely on a figure from a blog or calculator.
3. Decide whether you want an owner's policy and, if so, whether standard or extended coverage. The lender's policy does not protect you; the owner's policy is your choice even when someone else is customarily paying for it.
4. Compare your Loan Estimate to your Closing Disclosure when it arrives. Find the lines in Section C with the Title prefix (lender's policy, settlement agent fee, title search) and the owner's title insurance line in Section H, and check that the Borrower-Paid and Seller-Paid columns match the agreement.
5. If you are buying in one state and selling in the other, expect the customary split to be similar but ask each escrow officer to confirm how their office writes it, since the two transactions will close with different companies under different state rules.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the lender's policy protects the buyer. It protects the lender's loan only; the owner's policy is the one that protects your ownership.
• Treating a customary split as a rule. In both Washington and Idaho the purchase agreement controls, and a seller's or buyer's counter can shift the owner's policy or the escrow fee to the other side.
• Skipping the owner's policy because it is labeled optional on the Closing Disclosure. Optional means it is not a loan requirement, not that it is unimportant.
• Comparing premiums between the two states from third-party calculators instead of asking the local title company for a quote on the actual price and loan amount.
• Looking for the owner's policy in the buyer's total when the seller is paying it. On the Closing Disclosure it sits in the Seller-Paid column on the same line.

Related questions

• What is the difference between standard and extended owner's title coverage in Washington?
• Who pays the real estate excise tax when selling a home in Pullman?
• How does earnest money get held and released by an escrow company on the Palouse?
• Can a buyer choose the title company in Washington or Idaho?
• What is a settlement statement and how does it differ from the Closing Disclosure on a cash purchase?

A note on scope

This article is general information, not legal, tax, lending, insurance, inspection, or title advice. For those questions, work with the relevant licensed professional.

Next step

If you are weighing Pullman against Moscow and want to see how the title and escrow lines usually land on each side of the state line, Jordan Vorderbrueggen at Woodbridge Real Estate can walk you through the customary split and connect you with the local escrow office for a written quote. Call or text 509-288-0082. Jordan is a real estate broker, not a title insurer or attorney, and the purchase agreement and the title company's quote determine the final allocation. You can also contact Jordan.

About the author

Jordan Vorderbrueggen writes about buying and selling homes in Pullman, Moscow, and across the Palouse with Woodbridge Real Estate. Hard to Spell, Tough to Beat.