Michigan Title Company
If you’re planning to buy a home soon, it’s important to get in touch with a Michigan title company. They conduct a thorough title search and assist you during the closing process. Here are some important qualities to look for in a title company:
Experienced
First and foremost, you should look for a title company that has multiple years of experience in conducting title searches. Title searches are very involved and complex, so it’s critical to work with a title company that is skilled at conducting them.
Modern technology
Before you decide to work with a title company, make sure that they are up-to-date on the latest technology in the real estate field. They should be capable of keeping your private information secure with modern technology and allow you to sign and track your documents from anywhere.
Local
It is also important to hire a title company that has knowledge of local regulations where your real estate transaction will take place. Laws can different from state to state and even from county to county.
Good Reputation
The title company you decide to hire should also have a good reputation with past clients. Generally, the better reputation a company has, the better job they will do for you. Start by looking at the company’s website for testimonials from previous clients. You can also look for customer reviews on sites like Facebook and Yelp.
Excellent Communication
When you are in the middle of something as important as a real estate transaction, you want to maintain constant communication with a Michigan title company. When you first consult a title company, pay attention to how they communicate with you. Do they provide clear answers to your questions? Do they return your phone calls in a timely manner?
Benefits Provided By a Title Company
Purchasing real estate is a significant investment. Obtaining a clear title to your real property is crucial for purchasing real property. Here are the main benefits a title company offers to consumers.
Title Search
A title search reviews all the existing property records to determine any outstanding issues associated with the property. Your Michigan Title Company will check if the property boundaries have been correctly reflected in previous transfers. Closeline Settlements also reviews court records to determine if any outstanding liens or judgments against the property need to be cleared before closing. In some instances, there may be liens that were previously unknown or not disclosed by the owner. As liens attach to the property, they must be paid from the proceeds of the sale.
Title Insurance
Title companies also sell title insurance as an added layer of protection for consumers who purchase real estate. Real estate litigation can be very costly, so title insurance is valuable. Your Michigan Title Company will issue a policy that will reimburse for loss due to undiscovered liens or encumbrances. At the time of the title search, there may be outstanding litigation that results in a lien on the property. This legal action may not be disclosed in the court record but can get docketed before closing. Title insurance from Closeline Settlements would reimburse the buyer for any liens that were not discovered during the title search. Title insurance also protects from errors in recording the deed, fraud, ownership disputes and other unknown property restrictions.
Survey
If you want to be sure about the boundaries of the real estate you are purchasing, you will want to get a survey. Many residential and commercial land parcels are carved out in strange shapes that make it difficult to discern the boundaries just by viewing them. Your Michigan Title Company can order a survey that will clearly show the edges of your property. The surveyor will also provide physical markers so you can see the corners of the property.
Closing
Title companies also conduct the closing of the real estate sale. As part of the closing, the title company prepares all necessary documents to be recorded to affect the purchase. Closeline Settlements will require documentation of all items needing clearing before closing and will issue checks for all encumbrances required to be paid from the settlement proceeds. The title company will also receive monies for the purchase from the buyer and disburse any payments to the seller.
Questions to Ask a Title Company
If you have your first meeting with a title company coming up, it is important to prepare a list of questions. Here are several questions you may want to ask:
- How long has your title company been in business?
- What are your fees?
- What’s your company’s ratio of title claims to customers?
- How long does it typically take you to complete a title search?
- What has been your most challenging title search and how did you take care of it?
If you want to buy a home, you should schedule a consultation with a Michigan title company. Contact Closeline Settlements today.