Buying or selling a home (or other piece of real property) usually involves the transfer of large sums of money.
It is imperative that the transfer of these funds and related documents from one party to another be handled in a
secure manner by a neutral and knowledgeable third party, the escrow holder The parties to the transaction want to
be certain all conditions of the transaction have been met before property and money change hands. For the protection
of buyer, seller and lender, the process of escrow was developed.
As the escrow holder, Old Republic Title acts upon the instructions of the parties and ultimately disburses the money.
Simply stated, the escrow holder impartially carries out the written instructions given by the parties to the real estate
transaction. This includes receiving funds and documents necessary to comply with the instructions, completing or
obtaining required forms, and handling final delivery of funds, documents, and statements to the proper parties upon
the successful completion of the escrow.
After a written agreement has been reached for the purchase and sale of a piece of property, an escrow can be opened
with Old Republic Title by any of the parties to the transaction – seller, seller’s agent, buyer, or buyer’s agent. The
duties of the escrow holder and the timing of key tasks may vary depending on state specific requirements. Upon opening
the escrow, the escrow holder should be provided with the terms of the sale and information necessary to perform these tasks.
If the transaction is dependent on arranging new financing, the buyer, with the assistance of the buyer’s real estate agent,
will make the necessary arrangements with the new lender. Since the loan documents must be processed prior to the close of escrow,
the timing for delivery of these documents to the escrow holder should be considered carefully and coordinated with the lender
based on the anticipated closing date.
As the escrow holder, Old Republic Title assembles and processes the paperwork and funds necessary to close the transaction
according to the buyer's and seller's instructions. This may include processing loan documents, recordable documents, or tax
statements, gathering various types of insurance policies, preparing documents in connection with any seller-assisted financing,
and obtaining payoff statements or invoices for various services to be paid from the escrow funds.
The escrow holder keeps all parties informed of progress during the escrow process.
The escrow holder or real estate agent will contact the buyer and seller to schedule an appointment for signing documents.
These documents may include escrow instructions, estimated statements, recordable documents, required government forms, and any
loan documents for the buyer’s new financing. A legal form of identification for each person, such as a current driver’s license,
passport or identification card (military or state), should be brought to the signing appointment.
The seller will be advised as to the estimated amount of the proceeds after closing costs have been deducted.
The buyer will be notified as to the amount required for closing. These funds should be in the form of certified or wired funds.
When all instructions in the escrow can be carried out to the satisfaction of all parties and any funds required have been deposited,
the escrow can be closed. All necessary documents are recorded and title to the property is transferred, funds are disbursed, and title
insurance is issued pursuant to the terms of the escrow instructions.
Rely on Old Republic Title to handle your escrow needs with efficiency and expert service.
The escrow holder acts upon the instructions of the parties and ultimately disburses the money. Escrow functions may include some or
all of the following:
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Coordinate communications between all parties in the transaction
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Prepare written escrow instructions
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Request preliminary report or commitment
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Request a statement of identity (information) from buyer or seller as needed
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Order demands or beneficiary statements
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Receive bills from home warranty companies, as well as pest, roof, home, and other inspection companies
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Prepare or secure the deed or other recordable documents
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Comply with lender’s requirements
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Prorate taxes, interest, insurance and rents
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Receive purchase funds required for closing
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Coordinate recording of deeds and any other necessary documents
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Close escrow when all the instructions of buyer and seller have been carried out
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Disburse funds as authorized, including charges for title insurance, recording fees, real estate compensation/commissions and loan payoffs
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Prepare final statements for the parties accounting for the disposition of all funds deposited in escrow
It is important to note that the escrow holder does not offer legal advice, negotiate the transaction or offer investment advice.
Contact Old Republic Title for all your escrow needs.