Title & Escrow Questions and Answers
100% Pass
Title & Escrow ✔✔Escrow and title insurance typically go hand-in-hand together in real estate
sales or financing types of transactions. Many times, a title insurance comp
...
Title & Escrow Questions and Answers
100% Pass
Title & Escrow ✔✔Escrow and title insurance typically go hand-in-hand together in real estate
sales or financing types of transactions. Many times, a title insurance company will offer escrow
services as well, or escrow can be offered by a separate company dedicated solely to escrow
functions. Escrow is a designated and neutral third party firm that collects money and paperwork
from all sides in the real estate transaction prior to making any necessary payoffs to the sellers
and existing lenders concurrently at the closing and clear title insurance coverage.
What is title insurance? ✔✔It is a contract obligation where one party agrees to reimburse,
indemnify, or protect against any potential financial losses or damages to the subject property
which may occur under the designated terms and provisions included within the title insurance
contract. differs from life or casualty insurance such as car or health insurance, which usually
insure against future events such as an automobile accident or health problems in one's older
years. Insures against past events or histories
Title insurance, in turn, typically insures against past events or histories such as problems
associated with the following issues: ✔✔"Chain of title" ownership or transfer histories
Zoning and usage issues
Improper easements and encroachments such as a neighbor's fence being improperly built on a
person's yard
Mistakes such an incorrect property addresses
Forgery and fraud where a previous seller's signature was signed by someone else without his or
her permission
The two main types of title insurance options available to property owners nationwide:
✔✔Standard Coverage Policy
Extended Coverage Policy
Standard Coverage Policy: ✔✔It is usually the less expensive title insurance option primarily
since it offers fewer insurance coverage benefits. The insurance risks are usually limited to
certain types of off-record risks such as fraud in the chain of title, defective past recordings, and
the competency issues of past owners. Mechanic's liens, tax liens, judgments, and other defects
against the property that a basic search of public records may uncover are generally covered by
this policies.
Extended Coverage Policy: ✔✔This more expensive and extensive type of title insurance policy
provides the same insurance coverage benefits as a standard policy while also offering protection
against past events or histories that aren't as easy to discover without physical inspections or
detailed verbal inquiries such as unrecorded mechanic's liens, leases, or seller-financed
wraparound mortgages or land contracts that can "cloud" up the clear title history with
questionable ownership interests still in place.
insures against many of the items excluded in the standard policy. Lenders require their
mortgagee policies to be extended coverage policies.
Escrow ✔✔Escrow officers and firms can interact the most with parties or businesses as
compared with any other people involved in the transaction, including the agents and principals.
some of the basic functions of an escrow officer involved in a residential or commercial real
estate sales transaction: ✔✔Work with all parties in the transactions including buyer, seller, and
agents
Collects the necessary earnest money deposits
Orders the preliminary title report and examination for the subject property
Orders the appropriate title insurance requested by the parties
Coordinates the hazard insurance coverage with the home insurance agent
Gathers the third party inspection reports (e.g., termite and pest, home inspection)
Orders the demands for payoff from the existing lender(s) and owners
Requests copies of the buyer's new vesting information to be placed onto title at the closing (i.e.,
John Smith, a single man holds title 100%)
Creates one, two, or more updated versions of escrow instructions that are primarily based upon
the submitted and signed purchase agreements, counteroffers, and any subsequent addendums
Gather all tentative closing cost information from the new lender, buyer, seller, listing agent,
buyer's agent, and any third parties with unpaid bills such as home inspectors, pest control, and
appraisers
Prepare all closing documents
Complete the closing concurrently with the payoff of any existing debt on the subject property,
and assist with the transfer of title to the new buyers
Collect and disburse all monies owed
Complete all post-closing details
title closing ✔✔is the culmination of the real estate transaction.
At the title closing: ✔✔The buyer completes his or her financing arrangements (referred to as
closing the loan).
The seller transfers the title.
Both the buyer and seller pay the necessary taxes, fees and other charges.
Who Attends Title Closing ✔✔Buyer - Pays for the property and receives clear title.
Seller - Conveys the property and receives payment.
Closing agent - Prepares all the documents that need to be signed at the closing, including the
actual settlement statements that show all the debits and credits assigned to the buyer and seller
in the transaction.
Others who may attend the closing are: ✔✔Attorneys for the parties - Examine the documents to
ensure that the best interests of the clients are being met
Lender representative - Examines documents and makes sure the property getting the loan has
clear title
Real estate agent - Collects commission
Title company representative - Reviews documents and answers questions about the title
Closing Documents ✔✔Deed
Survey
Other Documents
Deed ✔✔The deed is the most important document at closing, since it transfers the property to
the purchaser. The deed is usually prepared by the seller's attorney, who uses the old deed as a
template to prepare the new one.
Survey ✔✔The purchaser, purchaser's lender, or t
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