Frequently Asked Questions
Our caring and trained team is here to ensure every step of your closing journey is taken care of. During this time, there may be some questions you need answered before we even discuss. Please CONTACT US if you have any further questions not listed.
What is a title search?
A Title Search is a detailed review and evaluation of court-recorded documents to identify any potential limitations, adverse matters, or issues affecting property ownership and transferability. It aims to ensure the title is free of liens, easements, and encumbrances by examining public records, such as deeds, mortgages, judgments, and tax records. This process uncovers existing claims, restrictions, and legal issues, verifies the property’s chain of title, and checks for accurate legal descriptions, providing confidence that the title is clear and marketable for buyers, lenders, and other parties.
What can make a title defective?
Errors in public records, mechanic’s liens, bankruptcies, child support liens, spousal support liens, and other unknown liens, as well as delinquent taxes, illegal deeds, undiscovered encumbrances, unknown easements, boundary or survey disputes, missing heirs, forgeries, undiscovered wills, and false impersonation of a previous owner, can all make a title defective. These issues may remain hidden despite thorough searches, potentially causing significant legal expenses and even resulting in the loss of property.
What is the price for title insurance?
What is an Escrow?
What items are needed for a closing?
BUYERS
- Buyer’s copy of the purchase agreement
- Good Faith Estimate for any mortgage(s)
- Evidence of insurance for fire, casualty, etc.
- Invoices for any unpaid taxes, utilities, or assessments
- Cashier’s check(s) for deposit; final closing costs check or wire will be due at closing
- Photo identification (passport, driver’s license, or state-issued ID card)
SELLER
- Seller’s copy of the purchase agreement
- Prior Owner’s Policy for reissue credit on insurance
- Invoices for any unpaid taxes, utilities, assessments, and latest utility meter readings
- Receipts for the last payment of interest on mortgages
- Bill of Sale for personal property covered by the purchase agreement
- Survey, provided no structural changes or improvements have been made since
- Photo identification (passport, driver’s license, or state-issued ID card)
For refinance transactions, additional items or verification of information may be required.