FAQs
If your questions are still not answered, we have a team of professionals in each office ready to assist you!
Glossary of Terms
Appraisals
An appraisal is an estimate of market value. The Seller may want an appraisal to determine the value of the real estate. The Buyer may want to be sure they are paying no more than the property is worth. Financial institutions usually insist on an appraisal to determine the amount of money they should lend to a credit applicant. Appraisals are also used to estimate value for taxation and insurance purposes and in condemnation proceedings.
Condominiums/Homeowners Associations
If your property is a condo or has a homeowner's association, information needs to be acknowledged in writing by the buyer so that they understand that the purchase of their property is subject to the Association's By-laws. If this is not addressed in the original purchase agreement, Escrow will need to have an addendum signed later.
Dates: Loan Approval Date
The Loan Approval Date is generally 30 days from the date the contract was signed. This means the Buyer typically is given 30 days to obtain firm loan approval from their bank from the date you are signing the agreement. Many Buyers are obtaining pre-approval from their Lenders before even looking for a home, but these are subject to the home appraisal.
Dates: Funds and Documents Date
Funds and Documents Date is the date by which the escrow company must have all of the funds and documents in place in order to transfer title by a specific date. This is generally 3 business days prior to Title Transfer.
Dates: Title Transfer Date
Title Transfer Date is an agreed date taking into account length of time needed for financing. Your funds and documents date for the home you are purchasing should be a few days after the title transfer date of the home you are selling. If the proceeds from your sale are being used for your new purchase, you will need 24 hours minimum to disburse your funds from the sale in order for them to be used to secure your new property. Choosing to schedule your closing the last week of the month may cause delays and frustrations. By scheduling your closing in the middle of the month, you can avoid these delays.
Dates: Possession Date
Possession Date is the actual date you will be required to give your buyer the keys and sole access to the property. Usually this takes place 3-5 days after the transfer date.
Deed Information
By providing the correct information on the financial information form, escrow can avoid problems later with preparing the new deed and the signing of the mortgage documents. NOTE: Mary A. Smith is not the same "person" as Mary Ann Smith. The Buyer(s)'s name(s) and marital status should be written as they wish them to appear on the deed. This should be the full legal names of all parties who are to take title to the property, as well as their relationship to each other. (i.e. Joseph P. Smith and Mary A. Smith, husband and wife.) If more than one party is taking ownership, the type of new deed will also determine what happens to the property in the event of the death of any one of the owners. The Buyer's names on the new deed must EXACTLY match the names on their new mortgage.
Disclosures: Federal Lead Based Paint Disclosure
This form is required only if your home was built prior to 1978. The federal government requires that you disclose any knowledge of lead based paint on the premises, as well as providing to your Buyer a federally published booklet regarding the potential hazards of lead in the home. In the Forms-4-U Package, provided by Royal Title Services, is an addendum to your purchase agreement, which addresses the possibility that lead may be found in the home by an inspection, and allows you to make provisions for what will happen in this situation.
Earnest Money
Earnest money is "money given in part as a part payment and pledge in binding a bargain." There truly is NO STANDARD AMOUNT and is purely up the amount the Buyer and Seller agree to, this will "bind the bargain". If the Buyer's financing falls through this may represents what the Buyer and Seller agree would be fair compensation to the Seller for the loss of ability to accept other offers during the loan approval process.
Escrow
Escrow is when the Buyer and Seller come together with a signed Purchase Agreement and a neutral third party holds funds until the Lender's conditions and those outlined in the Purchase Agreement have been met. In an Escrow Closing, there are 3 parts: The loan, the title work and the escrow. The Lender handles the Loan exclusively. The Title Company handles the title work - which includes the exam and the title insurance. One or the other will handle the escrow - which is the "clearing house" in the middle. The Escrow Company collects all of the funds and documents necessary to complete the transaction, and makes sure that the buyer gets the property and the seller gets the proceeds. The details that the escrow company needs to check include the instructions in your Purchase Agreement as to who is paying which charges, your property taxes, any liens against your property, and any requirements the Lender has. In order to remain neutral, an Escrow Agent can only follow WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS as outlined in your purchase agreement and lender's instructions.
Homeowners/Condominiums Associations
If your property is a condo or has a homeowner's association, information needs to be acknowledged in writing by the buyer so that they understand that the purchase of their property is subject to the Association's By-laws. If this is not addressed in the original purchase agreement, Escrow will need to have an addendum signed later.
Home Warranty
Home Warranty covers the many major repair expenses that may arise in the first 12 months of ownership. As a Seller, a Home Warranty makes it easier to sell your home. Letting the Buyer know that they will have no major repair expenses for their first year in the home is a great source of comfort. Included in the kit provided by Royal Title Services is a brochure from Home Owner's Association of America with details about costs and coverage. Ask your Royal Title Services Expert for an application!
Inspections: Pest Inspection
The most common form of pest inspection is to look for wood destroying insects. These are required in all FHA and VA loans, but may be required by some conventional Lenders and/or your buyer.
Inspections: Point-of-Sale Inspections
Point-of-Sale inspections are required with growing frequency by cities and townships throughout the area. The inspections are to certify that the property is in compliance with local ordinances. It is the Seller's responsibility to provide this information to the Escrow Department. The inspections range from interior and exterior to septic, and they vary by location. Please call your local government if you are unsure if this is a requirement in your area.
Inspections: Well & Septic Inspection
Well & septic inspections can either be required by Lenders or as a condition of the sales agreement between the Buyer and the Seller. It's also fast becoming an included condition in point-of-sale inspections in rural cities and townships where central water and sewer are not available.
Owner's Fee Policy
The Owner's Fee Policy insures you in the event that examiners miss a critical document in their search of the public records. It insures you up to the purchase price of your home, putting the assets of our underwriters behind you should anyone try to lay claim to your property. Further, it protects you from title items NOT shown by public records. This includes what is called "hidden defects" such as forgery, unknown heirs, or incompetence of former owners. Most Lenders will require what is called an ALTA Lenders Policy.(See definition of ALTA Lenders Policy.)
Pre-Approved
Pre-Approval involves filling out a loan application and verification of documentation. This documentation will include a full credit report, source of down payment, W-2's and pay stubs. If a Buyer is Pre-Approved, they will have a certificate of approval or letter from the Lender, subject to appraisal of the property they choose.
Pre-Qualified
Sometimes a Lender will acquire an "in file credit report" and talk to the Buyer about how much they can afford to borrow. This is known as being "Pre-Qualified." (See the definition of Pre-Approved and note the differences)
Purchase Agreement
Escrow will need to follow instructions from your purchase agreement. As Escrow can only follow written instructions, you can avoid extra paperwork later, by making sure these things are addressed in your agreement Your purchase agreement should also tell the escrow agent how the buyer wants to take title to the property.
Specialized Services
Some additional services may be required to complete your sale. These may be a requirement of your Purchase Agreement, or a requirement of the Buyer's Lender. If any of these services are required in your Purchase Agreement, be sure it states who is responsible for payment of these services.
Surveys: Land Surveys
Land Surveys are made to establish boundaries of land areas by setting corner markers or monuments and/or to obtain boundary information required for both record/deed descriptions and for plotting parcels of real property.
Surveys: ALTA Land Title Surveys
ALTA Land Title Surveys show all principle improvements to the property, such as the home itself or a garage, and their relationship to the exact boundary lines. Please note that the boundaries are not staked as in a Stake/Boundary Survey. (See the definition of Stake / Boundary Survey)
Surveys: Mortgage Location Surveys
Mortgage Location Surveys verify that the improvements (home, garage, etc.) on which they are placing a mortgage are located on the correct property. This is the most common type of survey ordered on a property transfer. It allows the Title Company to provide additional coverage to the lender, for such things as driveway easements and potential mechanic's liens for new structures.
Surveys: Stake/Boundary Surveys
The purpose of this survey is to allow the intended user of the property to learn the exact location of all property corners and boundary lines. This type of survey is highly recommended if the homeowner wants to construct additional improvements on the property such as garage, pools, fences, sheds, etc. A Boundary survey is typically performed for Buyers only and does not show improvements to the property and their relationship to property lines. NOTE: If the parcel of land has been divided since the last deed was issued, legislation requires that you have a stake survey completed.
Title Company
The main function of a Title Company is to issue title insurance. In order to do this, you must first have a title company examine your title. Even if you have only owned your home a short time, an examination of your title is a necessary part of the process.
Title Exam
The Title Exam is an examination of the public records, in connection with your property. It determines who owns the property, along with any mortgages or liens that appear against the property. It will also determine if the examiner has found anything that would interfere with the Buyer taking title.
Title Insurance
Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects your legal rights to own, possess, use, control and dispose of land. A title guarantee is not Title Insurance.
