Purchasing a home for the first time can be intimidating. Let me help you. Call me at 410-647-8000 ext. 817 and I'll give all the info you'll need to move forward.
I'll Champion for You Through Closing
Let's talk about "escrow". When you're closing on your new property, a neutral, third party (known as the escrow holder or the escrow agent) is used to assure the process will close appropriately and in a specific time frame. Escrow agents hold money for "safe-keeping" in an exchange between a buyer and seller. PayPal is a good way to picture an escrow company.
The escrow holder makes sure that all terms and conditions of the seller's and buyer's contract are met prior to the sale being finalized. This includes getting monies and documents, filling out required forms, and getting the release documents for any loans or liens that have been paid with the transaction, assuring you have a free title to your place before the final price is fully paid.
Escrow holders collect the following records:
- Loan documents
- Tax statements
- Fire and other insurance policies
- Title insurance policies
- Terms of sale and any seller-assisted financing
- Requests for payment for various services to be paid out of escrow funds
Upon completion of all instructions of the escrow, closing can take place. All payments owed and fees are taken and paid at this time (covering expenses such as title insurance, inspections, real estate commissions). You'll then secure the title to the home and the title insurance gets issued as stated in the escrow instructions.
The escrow company receives a payment when the closing is complete. I'll keep you up-to-date on the procedure.
The Escrow Holder Will:
- Prepare escrow instructions
- Perform a title inquiry
- Comply with the bank's guidelines as written in the escrow agreement
- Accept funds from the buyer
- Prorate interest, insurance, tax and other payments according to guidelines
- Record deeds and other documents as instructed
- Obtain title insurance policy
- Close escrow when all terms of agreement of seller and buyer are complete
- Disburse funds and finish instructions
The Escrow Holder Won't:
- Advise you - the escrow company stays a neutral, third-party status
- Dispense opinions about the outcome of your taxes
|
The Escrow Holder Will:
|
|
The Escrow Holder Won't:
|
- Prepare escrow instructions
- Request title search
- Meet the bank's guidelines as written in the escrow agreement
- Receive payments from the buyer
- Prorate tax, interest, insurance and other fees according to guidelines
- Record deeds and other legal documents as instructed
- Request title insurance policy
- Close escrow when all instructions of seller and buyer are met
- Disburse funds and finalize instructions
|
|
- Advise you - the escrow holder must maintain a neutral, third-party status
- Give insight about future tax estimations
|
Mortgage Escrow Account
Creating a Mortgage Escrow Account helps keep track of on-going expenses while there's a loan on your house. Usually, the home buyer makes a payment at closing and also makes regular deposits through their monthly mortgage payment to fund the Escrow Account.
This is a simple outline of the escrow process. Your particular process will vary based on your bank and your escrow agent.