Helpful Escrow Information

There are about 60 people involved in the settlement of a real estate transaction. The following are some tips to make the process run smoothly:

If you have a lender call them for advice about making your mortgage payment during the month of closing. Notify your agent with your lender's name, address, telephone number, your loan number and your social security number and they will provide to the title/escrow company. They will need this information to order your loan pay offs.

NOTE: If you make a payment after the payoff amount is determined, the closing/escrow statement will have to be changed, and your lender may charge a fee for updating the documents to reflect the new pay out amount.

If you currently have an FHA mortgage, 30 day advance notice of mortgage payoff may have to be given to avoid an additional charge of one month's interest. (Some lenders charge a per diem rate, others charge 30 day's interest.)

You should be aware that it is common practice to add several day's interest to the amount due as of settlement on your mortgage payoff. Your lender considers the actual pay out date to be the day the funds are received. If you have a local lender, it may be possible to hand carry the payoff check to save any extra charges for daily interest. Check with your title company about their policy.

Lien waivers must be provided at closing for all work done to the property in the previous six months. A lien waiver is a standard form provided by contractors or other workman verifying that they have been paid in full and cannot place a mechanics lien against the property.

Be sure to make arrangements to transfer all utilities out of your name as of the date of occupancy. If your home is heated by fuel, it may be considered to be personal property and, as such, will be purchased by the buyer at the time of settlement. Please arrange for your vendor to measure the amount of remaining fuel and to give you a written statement as to its current value. Send that statement to your agent.

Water and Sewer Bills (if applicable) will be prorated on the closing statement. If you have a bill coming due near the date of settlement, please inform your closing/escrow agent as to whether or not you have paid it.

The following items are usually pro-rated on the closing/escrow statement:
Homeowner's Association Fees
Condominium Association Fees
Current Taxes
Rents (If applicable)

It is not always necessary for you to sign your closing documents at the title/escrow company. These documents can be Federal Expressed to you. Detailed instructions will be included for you.

Some lending institutions have a policy of not releasing real estate tax escrows until after a loan is paid off in full. This may cause a temporary cash flow problem if all your proceeds of sale are needed immediately upon settlement. Call your lender and ask if the tax escrow will be fully credited on the pay out statement.

We hope this information will be useful and help make your escrow run smoothly.

For an estimate of fees specific to your property transaction, call Kennedy & Associates at 707-884-9000 or email us at property@kennedyrealestate.com.

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