The title of a property consists of its ownership record, a physical description of it, and any liens on it. Before a property can be bought or sold, its title needs to be examined to ensure that it can be transferred to someone else. At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, we provide title and closing services through Weissman PC, a real estate and litigation law firm with a vast residential closing practice in Georgia. Here, we explain the title and closing services available through BHHS Georgia Properties and how they can help simplify your buying or selling process.
What Are Title and Closing Services?
Title and closing services are performed by real estate attorneys or title companies during the home buying and selling process. They are done to help ensure the property can be bought or sold and that both the buyer and seller will be satisfied with the transaction. These services generally consist of:
Title Search
The title search involves researching the history of the property, its previous owners, and any claims against it from third parties. This must be completed before closing on a mortgage. This process is done to make sure there are no defects that can affect the use of the home, such as:
- Liens
- Fraudulent transfers
- Unknown heirs
- Prior unpaid taxes
- Previous mortgages
These defects could lead to problems that the buyer must deal with in the future, so it’s important to make sure they’re identified before going any further. If the title search comes across any defects, they should be fixed before closing or the deal may fall through.
Title Insurance
The other main aspect of title services is title insurance, which is a policy that protects the property owner or mortgage lender if issues surface that weren’t found originally. It guarantees that the title company will pay to fix the situation if issues arise that are within the coverage of the policy. It also lasts for the entire time the buyer lives in the property. It is not required for all buyers, but at BHHS Georgia Properties, we recommend it to protect your investment.
Closing Settlement
If the title search shows no defects, the closing process or settlement will begin. This involves the buyer getting the title and deeds from the seller, the seller getting the payment from the buyer, and finalizing the transaction. It will also involve paying the closing costs, which are fees paid by either the buyer or seller for applications, appraisals, inspections, etc. Closing costs for purchasing a home depend on factors like the size of the property, the loan agreement, and more.
These are the main aspects of title and closing services, but they can vary depending on whether you are buying or mortgaging and other factors. Since the title search and closing process can vary greatly, it’s best to work with a trusted law firm that understands the real estate industry.
Make Closing Simple With Weissman PC
At BHHS Georgia Properties, we are proud to partner with Weissman PC, our strategic affiliate for title and closing services. Weissman PC is a real estate and litigation law firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA. They have extensive experience providing residential real estate closing practices and a proprietary closing platform called ClosingConnect which simplifies the closing process for buyers, sellers, and agents. It allows registered users to share and view the status of a file and certain documents online so they can prepare for closing more seamlessly. Along with this major benefit, Weissman PC also offers clients other benefits like:
- Outstanding customer service
- Using the latest closing technology to make the process go as smoothly as possible
- Team of over 50 lawyers who offer practical legal expertise and services
- Locations throughout metro Atlanta and Savannah for the convenience of homebuyers and sellers
- Serving as General Counsel to the Georgia REALTORS®
By choosing to get your title and closing services through Weissman PC at BHHS Georgia Properties, you can save time by taking care of all your closing and title details in one place. You can also have peace of mind that your title and closing process will be completed by highly experienced real estate attorneys.
Get a Buyer/Seller Consultation at BHHS Georgia Properties Today
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a property, you can benefit from high-quality title and closing services at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, a part of HomeServices of America, the #1 real estate company in the nation. By partnering with Weissman PC, we provide clients throughout Georgia with title searches, title insurance, and more closing services, along with other buyer and seller services. To make a buyer or seller consultation, contact BHHS Georgia Properties and find a Forever Agent.