The final step in the home-buying process is the settlement.
At the settlement or the closing day, the buyers and sellers sign all the paperwork that makes the transaction happen.
A settlement agent or a settlement attorney ensures all necessary paperwork is properly signed. In addition, the settlement office handles property surveys, the transfer and registration of the deed, and the handling of all the funds in the transaction.
The home buyer chooses the settlement agent or attorney.
In fact, the buyer agent, or in my case, the exclusive buyer agent and the home inspector is also the buyer's choice.
It is imperative that home buyers do their research and fully understand the home-buying process.
Meet Peter Parente a title officer with Stewart Title in Washington D.C. Pete provides an overview of the responsibilities of a settlement agent.
1:03 What does a title company do?
1:15 The buyer has the right to choose the title company
1:35 What are escrow funds?
1:58 Second portion of the escrow funds
2:28 How do you evaluate settlement offices?
3:21 Look up who will be the insurer
3:43 Why should a buyer consider owners' policy insurance?
4:25 An example of a situation where owners' title insurance may be necessary
5:00 Another example of where owners' title insurance was used
5:30 What is lenders' title insurance?
6:08 How should you evaluate settlement charges?
7:12 In the loan estimate, everything should be disclosed upfront
7:43 When shopping lenders, the title fees will be included in the estimates
8:10 What is a boundary survey?
8:40 What is a location drawing?
9:12 Flood insurance
9:30 Stewart Title is an option for buyers As Stewart can close in all 50 states
10:11 Peter Parente is a settlement office and does marketing for buyer agents
11:15 Peter shares a personal experience of living in the Netherlands
12:10 How to properly wire funds for closing To avoid wire fraud
13:00 Always check with the lender and/or title company regarding wiring funds
13:44 @titlepartnerpete on Instagram
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