Closing & Escrow

Closing & Escrow

Sensitivity, Flexibility, Creativity

Fulfilling the American dream of home ownership can be a complicated and involved process with many third parties. Choosing title and escrow services from a highly-qualified title insurance company is essential to not only insure the title of the property long-term, but for accurately allocating fees between the buyer and seller, obtaining a mortgage loan to finance the transaction, facilitating the closing, and recording and filing the legal documents after closing. Regardless of whether you are buying or selling, you deserve top quality settlement services provided by a licensed professional.

When you purchase real property, rely on Fidelity National Title to protect your interests with proper escrow funds disbursements and successful and timely closings. You’ll be served by the leading title company in the U.S., backed by more than 160 years of successful title operations.

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What Happens in Escrow Settlement?

An escrow is an arrangement in which a disinterested third party, called an escrow holder or settlement agent, holds legal documents and funds on behalf of a buyer and seller, and distributes them according to the buyer's and seller's instructions.

What is Escrow?

Fidelity National Title provides professional escrow settlement services that are a convenience for the buyer and seller because both can move forward separately but simultaneously in providing inspections, reports, loan commitments and funds, deeds and many other items, using settlement as the central depositing point. If the instructions from all parties to the transaction are clearly drafted, fully detailed and mutually consistent, the settlement agent can take many actions on their behalf without further consultation, saving time and facilitating the successful closing of the transaction.

The settlement agent facilitates the sale or purchase of your home by:

  • Acting as the impartial "stake-holder," or depository of documents and funds
  • Processing and coordinating the flow of documents and funds
  • Keeping all parties informed of progress on the escrow
  • Responding to the lender's requirements
  • Securing a title insurance policy
  • Obtaining approvals of reports and documents from the parties as required
  • Prorating and adjusting insurance, taxes, rents, etc.
  • Recording the deed and loan documents
  • Maintaining security and accountability of monies owed and owing




 

What is Escrow?


 

What to Expect at Closing?

Closing the Sale Transaction and the Division of Charges

>>> Closing

Once all the terms and conditions of the instructions of both parties have been fulfilled, and all closing conditions satisfied, the escrow is closed and the safe and accurate transfer of property and money has been accomplished.

>>> Division of Charges

The method of dividing the charges for the services performed through the settlement process or as a result of escrow varies from place to place. The fees and service charges to be divided might include, for example, the title insurance policy premium, escrow settlement fee, any transfer taxes, recordation fees and cost in connection with any loan being obtained. Unless there is some special agreement between the buyer and seller as to how these charges are to be paid, local custom will generally be followed in drafting the instructions to the settlement agent as to how they are to be divided.

>>> Prorations

The escrow settlement agent will allocate between seller and buyer their proportionate share of an obligation paid or due.

For example, a pro-rata share of real property taxes or homeowner’s association dues are charged to the buyer and credited to the seller if they are prepaid at time of closing. The amounts prepaid are calculated per day from the date of closing to the date that they are paid to as follows:

Example:

Semi-annual Property Taxes in the amount of $665.05 are prepaid by the Seller to July 1st. Date of closing is June 15.

There are 15 days' worth of taxes due to be reimbursed to the seller at $3.69 per day for a total credit to the seller and charge to the buyer of $55.35.
 

Rely On Fidelity National Title To Represent You At Closing

Every owner, purchaser and beneficiary needs an insured title to protect their interests long-term. Teaming up with the right partners for closing and escrow settlement services is critical to ensure your security at the closing table, throughout the entire real estate transaction, and for every day of your residence.

Whether this is your first home or fiftieth real estate investment, ask your realtor or broker to protect you and your property with Fidelity National Title.