Closing on Your Home: What to Expect
Closing on a home can be an exciting time. For many buyers and sellers it can also be a time of confusion, primarily because many people are not familiar with the closing process. The better this process and the responsibilities of the various providers of services are understood, the more likely we are to relax and benefit from the transaction. Numerous entities will participate in and provide services to the purchasers; however, the real estate agent, mortgage lender and the title company are the primary participants in the closing of your home.
Your closing will actually take place at the title company, which will act as escrow agent and title insurer. As detailed in the earnest money contract, the title insurance agent may hold the earnest money, prepare the closing statement and generally coordinate with all the entities involved in the closing. This includes collecting invoices and written information from the mortgage lender, insurance agent, surveyor, attorneys for buyer, seller-lender, tax search firm, mechanical and termite inspection companies and title underwriter. In addition to acting as escrow agent, the title company will research the title to your home and issue a commitment for title insurance reflecting the ownership, restrictions, easements, liens and other exceptions that will have an effect on the property. Upon completion of the closing process, an owner’s policy of title insurance will be mailed to the purchaser reciting the exceptions that appeared in the commitment and any additional exceptions that were created at closing.
This summary of the steps and descriptions of the parties involved in helping you close on your home is quite involved. However, by understanding the closing process, you will be better able to identify the cause of any obstacle or delay in closing. At Camino Real Title, our staff of experienced professionals is dedicated to accomplishing a smooth, timely and successful closing of your property.
For more information on what to expect when closing on a home: