Paul Watkins: the hidden risks in property that could financially ruin buyers

Every year, Queensland buyers settle on properties with hidden risks they never saw coming. From unapproved building work and boundary disputes to title defects and fraud.In episode 23 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Paul Watkins, General Counsel at Stewart Title Australia, to unpack one of the most overlooked forms of buyer protection in Australian property: title insurance. With more than 20 years at the forefront of title insurance, legal reform and property risk management, Paul breaks down what title insurance actually is, why so many Australians still don’t know about it and the real life claims that can cost buyers tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.We cover:- Title insurance explained: what title insurance actually covers, why it protects buyers for the life of ownership, how it differs from standard conveyancing due diligence and why it remains one of the most under-utilised risk management tools in Australian property.- Real claims and hidden landmines: the most common title insurance claims in Queensland, including unapproved structures, boundary encroachments, council enforcement action and fraud, plus the real stories that show just how costly hidden property issues can become.- Raising the bar in buyer protection: what lawyers, conveyancers, lenders and real estate agents need to do better when it comes to educating buyers, managing property risk and ensuring clients understand what their legal representation does and doesn’t cover.If you’re buying property or working in real estate, this episode is a reminder that protecting your biggest asset starts with understanding the risks most buyers don’t even know exist.Contact Paul: https://www.stewartau.com/about-us/leadership-teamFollow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/Check out our blogs: https://empirelegal.com.au/blog/Website: https://empirelegal.com.au/Support the show