Blog Layout
Stephanie Cline • July 24, 2024
What Does a Title Company Do? A Behind-the-Scenes Look
You’ve found the perfect home and negotiated a successful contract, so the house is yours…right? Not quite. There’s a lot that happens from the time your offer is accepted to the day of the actual closing. So why does it take so long, and what actually goes on behind the scenes?
Between loan approval and closing, your title company is busy doing a lot of work to oversee the purchase process and make sure everything goes off without a hitch. If you are working with a real estate agent, they will place an order with a title agent as soon as your sales contract is accepted. While many homebuyers rely on their real estate agent to select a title company, homebuyers should know they have the option to choose for themselves! After all, a title company has a lot to do with how smoothly and timely the process goes.
But what exactly does the closing process entail? Here’s a ‘behind the scenes’ look at what your title company is doing to ensure your transaction closes on its scheduled date and time (and get you into your new home as quickly as possible!)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT – In order for title work to begin, the title company receives a copy of the Purchase Agreement (which defines the terms of the sale) and as a neutral party we follow the contract and instructions that are given to us. The title company also often acts as the settlement/escrow agent and will hold the earnest money deposit in an escrow account, where the funds will remain until the time of closing.
TITLE SEARCH – Next, the title company will conduct a thorough title search of public records to determine that there are no issues with the title (such as judgments, liens and encumbrances, and title defects). Once that search has been completed, a commitment or preliminary report for title insurance is prepared for the lender and/or home buyer.
TITLE INSURANCE – If you’re receiving financing, your lender will likely require that you purchase a Loan Policy (however, it only protects the lender). In many cases two policies are issued — one to protect the lender and one to protect the homeowner (Owner’s Policy), which protects you from title defects that existed prior to the issue date of your policy. In the state of Utah it is typical that a buyer purchases a lender’s policy and a seller purchases an owner’s policy.
SETTLEMENT STATEMENT – Once the title company has received and complied with all of the lender’s closing instructions and loan documents, they will prepare a settlement statement which outlines all of the costs for both the buyer and seller associated with the closing. This includes earnest money deposits, adjustments and prorations, existing loan payoffs, disbursements and escrow fees.
CLOSING DAY – When all paperwork has been completed, the title company will confirm the date, time, and location of the closing with all parties involved. At the closing, your escrow officer will explain the documents that need to be signed and collect the required signatures. Once papers are signed and the loan has been funded, you’ll receive the keys to the house. This is, of course, based on the possession date on your real estate contract.
While you’ve been busy packing and coordinating the movers, much more is done behind-the-scenes that leads to move-in day. It is the title company’s role to not just facilitate the transaction that will get you into your new home, but to alleviate some of the stress that comes along with it. At Novation Title, we believe that everyone working together makes closing day a cause for celebration!
-Novation Title Team
At Novation Title, we take immense pride in being recognized on the 2024 Top Latino-Owned Business List ! As a Latino-owned company, we are passionate about empowering our community through homeownership—one of the fastest ways for Latinos to build generational wealth in America. Why Hispanic Homeownership Matters Homeownership is more than just buying property; it's about creating stability, financial security, and opportunities for future generations. We believe in providing the resources and education needed to help our Latino community navigate the path to homeownership with confidence. Educating & Supporting Latino Homebuyers Our team uses key insights from the NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) reports to share real data on Latino homeownership growth and opportunities. We know that numbers don’t lie , and we want to ensure that every aspiring homeowner and entrepreneur has access to the right information. Advice for Latino Entrepreneurs For those looking to start a business in the title and real estate industry, our advice is simple: educate yourself and lean on data. By understanding the numbers and trends, you can position yourself for long-term success. Thank you to our community and partners for trusting Novation Title. Together, we continue to break barriers and build wealth through homeownership!
At Novation Title, we take immense pride in being recognized on the 2024 Top Latino-Owned Business List ! As a Latino-owned company, we are passionate about empowering our community through homeownership—one of the fastest ways for Latinos to build generational wealth in America. Why Hispanic Homeownership Matters Homeownership is more than just buying property; it's about creating stability, financial security, and opportunities for future generations. We believe in providing the resources and education needed to help our Latino community navigate the path to homeownership with confidence. Educating & Supporting Latino Homebuyers Our team uses key insights from the NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) reports to share real data on Latino homeownership growth and opportunities. We know that numbers don’t lie , and we want to ensure that every aspiring homeowner and entrepreneur has access to the right information. Advice for Latino Entrepreneurs For those looking to start a business in the title and real estate industry, our advice is simple: educate yourself and lean on data. By understanding the numbers and trends, you can position yourself for long-term success. Thank you to our community and partners for trusting Novation Title. Together, we continue to break barriers and build wealth through homeownership!
Welcome, 2020! We made it through the first week of the New Year and are already excited for what’s to come in this brand new decade. Anything can happen, and we have so much to create! Whether you’re a fan of long-term resolutions or prefer setting smaller, short-term goals, it feels good to start the year off with a desire to change for the better. If you know us, you know our approach at Novation Title has always been goal-centric, not only within our business but in our personal lives and out in the community. In today’s world where we are constantly connected (and distracted), it’s no wonder that we increasingly find ourselves overwhelmed mentally and physically drained. Often, the issues in everyday life are the ones that prevent us from enjoying the very same everyday life! How can we balance this out? We believe we can do better. That is why we are introducing meditation into our workspace. While meditation has been practiced for over 5,000 years, it is increasingly becoming a necessary way for us to unplug from the modern world. But what, exactly, is it? Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique — such as mindfulness — to train attention and thoughts. Mindfulness is awareness, it is a state of peace. It is being in the present moment, intentional and serene. It is the process of being aware of your thoughts while also disconnecting from them so you can connect within. Connecting within is the highest form of intelligence and results in proven mental, emotional and spiritual health benefits. Here are just a few science-based benefits of meditation: Reduces blood pressure Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior Improves immune system Increase in energy levels Lessens stress and anxiety Increases happiness and creativity Clarity and peace of mind Increased memory retention and recall Enhances self-awareness and self-acceptance Each one of us, regardless of gender, age or other factors, undergo daily stress and tension at some level or the other. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce #NovationMeditation into our business and we encourage others to join us this year. We can ALL benefit from improved mental and physical health in 2020. Who’s with us?!
REDEFINING THE EXPERIENCE
CONTACT
801-727-8420
6955 Union Park Center Suite 210, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84047
OPENING HOURS
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed