We're here to help

A title is the foundation of property ownership. It is the owner’s right to possess and use the property.

There are several ways property can be owned:

• As a sole owner – in which you own the property in your own name.

• As tenants-in-common – when two or more people own the property together. Under a tenant-in-common arrangement, each owner has a divisible interest in the property. Although most tenant-in-common ownerships are split equally (i.e., 50-50 ownership), there is no legal requirement stipulating that it has to be this way. Often, there are financial or other considerations that dictate a different ownership split — for example, 90-10 or 75-25. In a tenant-in-common ownership, upon the death of one owner, the deceased person’s percentage ownership becomes part of his or her estate. The property interest does not transfer to the surviving owner. If there is a will, that portion of the property is distributed in accordance with the instructions in the will. If the person dies intestate (i.e. without a will), then the laws of the jurisdiction where the person lived control the distribution
• With rights of survivorship – in which two or more people own the property together, however upon the death of one owner, the deceased person’s interest passes automatically to surviving parties on title

Title insurance affords protection from past events which may or may not be a part of the public records but that can adversely affect a new owner’s interest in the property being sold to them.

Title insurance protects against matters of public record, plus hidden title defects, such as fraud, forgery, incompetence or missing heirs, that even the most diligent title search may not discover. In terms of cost, some states closely regulate rates. Depending where you live, it pays to investigate your options carefully in order to obtain the most complete coverage.

Because land is permanent and can have many owners over the years, various rights in land may have been acquired by others (such as mineral, air, or utility rights) by the time you come into possession of it, even if the land has never before been built upon. So, in order to transfer a clear title to a piece of land, it is first necessary to determine whether any rights are outstanding.

Here are just a few of the most common hidden risks that can cause loss of title or create an encumbrance on title:

False impersonation of the true owner of the property

Forged deeds, releases or wills

Undisclosed or missing heirs

Instruments executed under invalid or expired power of attorney

Mistakes in recording legal documents

Misinterpretations of wills

Deeds by persons of unsound mind

Deeds by minors

Deeds by persons supposedly single, but in fact married

Liens for unpaid estate, inheritance, income or gift taxes

Fraud

If a claim is made against your property, title insurance will, in accordance with the terms of your policy, assure you of a legal defense—and pay all court costs and related fees. Also, if the claim proves valid, you will be reimbursed for your actual loss up to the face amount of the policy.

A title search is a detailed examination of the historical records concerning a property. These records include deeds, court records, property and name indexes, and many other documents. The purpose of the search is to verify the seller’s right to transfer ownership, and to discover any claims, defects and other rights or burdens on the property.

If the lender has title insurance protection and the owner does not, what possible danger of loss exists? As an example, assume real estate was purchased for $100,000. A down payment of $20,000 is made, and a lender holds an $80,000 mortgage lien, or beneficial interest. The lender acquires title insurance protecting the lender’s interest up to $80,000. But the purchaser’s down payment of $20,000 is not covered.

What if some matter arises affecting the past ownership of the property? The title insurance company would defend and protect the interest of the lender. The purchaser, however, would have to assume the financial burden of his or her own legal defense. If the defense is not successful, the result could be a total loss of title. The title insurance company pays the lender’s loss and is entitled to take an assignment of the borrower’s debt. The purchaser loses the down payment, other equity in the property that may have accumulated, and the property. And the balance on the note is still due!

Probably a lot less than you think. Charges vary in different sections of the country, but generally the cost of title insurance (including search, examination and related services) in Florida amounts to less than one percent of the cost of the property. And unlike other insurance premiums, which must be paid annually, a title insurance premium is paid one time only, usually at settlement.

A title search can show a number of title defects and liens, as well as other encumbrances and restrictions. Among these are unpaid taxes, unsatisfied mortgages, judgments against the seller and restrictions limiting the use of the land.

Yes, there are some “hidden hazards” that even the most diligent title search may never reveal. For instance, the previous owner could have incorrectly stated their marital status, resulting in a possible claim by their legal spouse. Other “hidden hazards’ include fraud and forgery, defective deeds, mental incompetence, confusion due to similar or identical names and clerical errors in the records. These defects can arise after you’ve purchased your home and can jeopardize your right to ownership.

Closing, which is also known as “settlement” or “escrow,” is the event where the title to a property is transferred from seller to buyer. Closing is typically held in an office, such as that of an attorney, title agent or title insurance company, and involves the completion of all the necessary paperwork to finalize the agreement between buyer and seller.

In addition, all financial issues are settled at closing—closing costs—and once the title is successfully transferred, the necessary documents are prepared, signed, and filed with local authorities.

All you’ll need to bring is yourself, along with two valid government issued picture IDs such as a Driver’s License, Passport, or Military ID. Additionally, if you are bringing money to the closing, these funds will need to be by wire-transferred funds. In certain instances, you may also be required to bring additional documents, in which case, we will inform you in advance.

Typically, a refinance will last between 20 and 50 minutes and a purchase and sale transaction will last 45 minutes to 60 minutes.

If you are purchasing, you should contact us prior to executing the contract. There are few reasons for this, but first is so we can review your proposed contract. This will ensure that you do not pay unnecessary charges that can be hidden in some contracts.

By contacting us as early as possible, you allow us adequate time to obtain title/abstract documentation on the subject property and clear any outstanding “clouds on title” prior to your contracted settlement/closing date. Additionally, we can better coordinate the closing/settlement with all parties involved including the sellers, purchasers, real estate professionals, and lenders.

If refinancing, you should contact us after you submit your loan application. Do not wait for final loan approval, as the time between your loan approval and closing is often very short. By scheduling with us early, you allow us time to obtain the necessary title/abstract documentation, clear any title issues, obtain payoffs from your current lender, and coordinate closing with your new lender.

Usually we are able to set up remote, online or digital closings. Please give our closing staff a call to see if this is an option that can work for you.

A “purchase and sale closing” is conducted by one of our competent and experienced attorneys or paralegals and is typically attended by the seller, purchaser, and their respective real estate professionals. A “refinance” closing/settlement is typically attended only by the borrower(s) and our closing agent.

Closing costs are all costs required to close the real estate transaction. They can include (but are not limited to) surveying fees, transfer taxes, title insurance, settlement fees, agent fees, points, loan origination fees,  and the balance of your down payment.

Prior to closing, you should review your final closing statement or HUD-1 Statement (whichever is in use) to ensure all calculations are correct and that you have been given all the credit for deposits and other agreed upon buyer and seller credits. Also recheck all lender, title, and escrow fees to make sure they are accurate.

Since we rely on third parties such as lenders to provide us with instructions, information, and loan figures for your closing, we often cannot furnish to you the exact amount that you must bring to closing until the day before, or sometimes, the day of closing.

However, you should be able to generally rely on your lender’s or your realtor’s good faith estimate for the approximate amount of money you need to bring to closing. If you happen to bring more funds than necessary, we will refund back to you any excess amount upon completion of the closing.