Closing Considerations: Understanding the Basics of the Real Estate Closing Life Cycle for Buyers


By: Sheena Johnson

Navigating the world of real estate and property law is difficult, even for those who are familiar with the ins and outs of buying and selling real property. There are hundreds of considerations that vary with the (1) type of transaction – a purchase, sale, or refinance, (2) type of property – residential or commercial, and (3) requirements of interested parties aside from the buyer and seller – such as lender, title insurer, or others. Despite the complexities that come with real estate transactions, luckily, there are some consistent features that any buyer can expect to come across during the life cycle of a real estate transaction.

STAGE 1: Get Familiar with Your State’s Real Estate Laws

Real estate law is not federalized, which means the rules governing real estate closings differ drastically between states. For example, Georgia law requires that a real estate closing be performed by a licensed attorney. However, in California, a closing can be performed by an escrow agent who does not have to be an attorney. Knowing your state’s rules will help you understand which players need to be involved in the transaction and will help the closing run smoothly.

STAGE 2: Negotiating a Purchase and Sale Agreement

Purchase and Sale Agreements are not standardized! This means (almost) any term can be amended, reworded, or negotiated. Protect your interests. Take a close look at provisions that lay out the (1) title requirements, (2) due diligence or inspection period, (3) events that trigger default, and (4) available remedies in the event of default.

STAGE 3: Doing Your Due Diligence

Following execution of a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a buyer’s next step is to request all documents needed to paint a full and accurate picture of the state of the property. These requests should include, at the very least, a comprehensive title exam from a reliable and competent title company. However, a buyer, its lender, or its title insurance company may require additional inspections, such as a survey or environmental assessment. Rest assured, most issues discovered during this period can be fixed, so it is in the buyer’s best interest to examine the property in depth.

STAGE 4: Obtaining an Owner’s Title Policy

A buyer’s lender will almost always demand a Lender’s Title Policy from the buyer. This protects the lender from adverse title claims or defects that arise before a mortgage is paid off or refinanced. The fact that lenders require their own title insurance to fund a purchase indicates its importance. Every buyer should invest in an Owner’s Title Policy from a reputable title insurer for the same reason – to protect the buyer from title defects that might appear during ownership. While some title defects can be relatively simple to fix, others can end up in protracted, costly litigation.

STAGE 5: Closing the Deal

The final step in the closing life cycle is the closing itself. In states that require an attorney to close a real estate transaction, the parties will need to find a closing attorney. This is the attorney responsible for things like:

  • Preparing all closing documents
  • Corresponding with the interested parties - lender, title insurer, franchisor, 1031 exchange company, etc.
  • Disbursing funds
  • Recording the recordable instruments such as deeds

It is imperative that the buyer and seller are available during the final days before closing to assist the closing attorney/escrow agent, lender, and title insurer with any last-minute issues, modifications, or surprises.

Conclusion

A real estate closing should be an exciting experience for both the buyer and seller, who are profiting from the transaction in different ways. However, a lack of information can make an otherwise wonderful and memorable experience a stressful one.

While not all-inclusive, the abbreviated stages above should provide buyers with a big-picture view of the closing life cycle, whether for residential or commercial real estate. To protect your interests during any step of the closing process, reach out to an experienced Chugh, LLP attorney.

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