closing escrow title
Appraisal vs Market Value vs Assessed Value
Appraised, market, and assessed values are produced by different people, for different reasons, at different times. Here's what each one means, why they diverge, and which to use when.
Closing, Escrow & Title
What happens between an accepted offer and the keys: escrow and title insurance, who pays which closing costs, transfer taxes and recording fees, settlement statements, wire-fraud prevention, and how attorney- vs. title-company closing states differ.
Articles
closing escrow title
Final Walkthrough Checklist Before Closing
What to check during the final walkthrough before closing — repairs, systems, included items, and new damage — and your options if something is wrong before you sign.
closing escrow title
The Financing Contingency: How It Protects Your Earnest Money
A financing contingency lets you cancel a home purchase and recover your deposit if you can't get the mortgage described in your contract. Here's how the protection works, where it fails, and what to check with your state real estate commission.
closing escrow title
How to Read Your Closing Disclosure, Line by Line
Read your Closing Disclosure in order — loan terms and cash to close on page 1, itemized costs on page 2, the cash-to-close math on page 3, and APR on page 5 — and compare each number to your Loan Estimate before you sign.
closing escrow title
Owner's vs. Lender's Title Insurance: What Each Policy Covers
The difference between owner's and lender's title insurance: what each policy covers and excludes, who pays, and why rates and rules vary by state.
closing escrow title
Purchase Agreement Contingencies Explained
A plain-English guide to the three most common purchase-agreement contingencies — inspection, appraisal, and financing — and how each one can protect your earnest money deposit if a deal falls apart.
closing escrow title
Rent-Back Agreements: How to Sell Now but Move Out Later
How a post-closing rent-back (seller leaseback) works, the terms to negotiate — duration, rent, deposit, insurance — and the tenant-law and financing risks to review with a local attorney.
closing escrow title
Title Insurance and Title Search Explained for Home Buyers
A title search traces ownership and uncovers liens or claims on a home. Here's what it covers, how lender's and owner's title insurance differ, and whether you need an owner's policy too.
closing escrow title
Who Pays Which Closing Costs: The Buyer vs. Seller Breakdown
A clear buyer-vs-seller breakdown of who typically pays each closing cost, which items are set by local custom, and what you can negotiate into the contract.
closing escrow title
Escrow Fees: Who Pays and Why It Matters?
Learn what escrow fees are, who pays them, average costs, and how to negotiate these real estate closing expenses during a home purchase.