Escrow: Now What?

Congratulations, you are on your way to owning your very own home! Follow these suggestions (and the advice of your Realtors ®) so that escrow and settlement will go as smoothly as possible.

You will be asked for a down payment on the home you are purchasing. You can choose to put down as much or as little as you want (depending on your mortgage).

During this period of purchasing your home, you will need an escrow or settlement company to act as an independent third party so that you know when and who to give your money to get the deed to your new home. The escrow or settlement company will hold your deposit and coordinate much of the activity during the escrow period. This deposit check may also be held by an attorney or in the broker's trust account. Ensure sufficient funds are in your account to cover this check.

The deposit check will be cashed. Assuming the sale goes through, this money will be applied to the home's purchase price. If for any reason the sale is not consummated, you may be entitled to receive all of your deposit back. In certain instances, the seller may be able to retain this money as liquidated damages. Before executing a purchase contract, it would be wise to speak with your agent regarding what those situations might be on your home.

1. The period that you are "in escrow" is often 30 days, but can be longer or shorter. Each item specified in the contract must be completed satisfactorily during this time. By the time you have opened escrow, you have agreed with the seller on the closing date and the contingencies. Each contract is different, but most include the following: 1. Inspection contingency: this should be completed as soon as possible after the contract to purchase is signed, as unsatisfactory inspection results may mean you will want to request repairs or cancel the contract.
2. Financing contingency: Once the contract is signed, you have a period of time to secure funding. If for any reason, you are unable to secure funding during the period of time granted to you by the contract (and the seller will not provide a written extension of time), you must decide whether you want to remove the contingency and take your chances on getting a loan. You may choose to cancel the purchase contract.  In other words, if you cannot get a mortgage, you won't be required to purchase the home. 
3. A requirement that the seller must provide a marketable title with an attorney or title officer and review the title report. The title must be "clear" to ensure that you do not have legal issues regarding your ownership. Check into local and state ordinances regarding property transfer and ensure that you and/or the seller have complied with them.
4. Secure homeowner's insurance. This will probably be required before you can close the sale. Due to such requirements as special fire and flood insurance, obtaining this insurance may require a lengthy period of time. It would be in your best interest to apply for insurance immediately after the contract is signed.
5. Contact local utility companies to schedule to have service turned on when you close escrow.
6. Schedule the final walk-through inspection. At this time, you should ensure that the property is exactly as the contract says it should be. What you thought to be a "permanently attached" chandelier that would come with the property might have been removed by the seller and replaced with a different fixture entirely.

You've made it! Once the sale has closed, you're the proud owner of a new home. Congratulations!