Buyer’s guide
Buying a home? Here’s what title does for you.
Title makes sure the person selling the home has the right to sell it, and that you get it free of surprises from the past. Here’s the title side of your purchase, step by step.
From offer to keys
Your offer is accepted
Escrow opens and the title order is placed. From here, our title team starts searching the record on the property.
You fill out a Statement of Information
It asks for a few personal details so we can tell you apart from people with similar names who may have liens or judgments. It’s confidential.
The preliminary report arrives
The prelim shows who owns the property, existing loans and liens, easements and CC&Rs. Read it with your agent and ask about anything unclear.
You decide how to hold title
How your name appears on the deed has legal and tax effects. Talk with an attorney or CPA, then tell escrow.
You call before you wire
Before sending your down payment, call your escrow officer at a number you already know is genuine. Never use a number from an email.
You sign, the loan funds and the deed records
Once everything is signed and funded, the deed is recorded with the county. That’s when the home is officially yours.
Your owner’s policy arrives
Keep it with your important papers. It protects you against covered title problems from before you bought.
Questions to ask
- Is there anything on the prelim that needs to be cleared before closing?
- Are there easements or CC&Rs that affect how I can use the property?
- Are there any special assessments, such as Mello-Roos or PACE, on the tax bill?
- Which ways of holding title should I ask my attorney or CPA about?
- What phone number should I use to confirm wiring instructions?
General information, not legal or tax advice. For anything about your property, ask your title officer.