An Attorney Owned and Operated Title Company Serving Fort Walton Beach
25,000+ Completed Real Estate Transactions
Voted Best in Destin Title Company for 2022
With You From Contract to Closing
Experienced – Reliable – Authentic
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If you are a buyer, seller, realtor, or lender, and need help closing your real estate transaction, Emerald Coast Title Services can be your preferred title and escrow company in Northwest Florida. We are an attorney-run company and have completed tens of thousands of real estate transactions since 1983. Our Fort Walton Beach real estate attorneys are here to serve you, one transaction at a time.
Every state differs when it comes to home or business closings. Some states require that you use an attorney during your real estate transaction. The good news is that in Florida, this is not required. However, you do have the option of retaining a lawyer or using a title company with lawyers to handle your transaction.
Since Florida does not require you to have a lawyer at closing, why do you need one? Here is a look at why you should do yourself a favor and choose our Fort Walton Beach lawyers for real estate at Emerald Coast Title Services.
What is a For Sale by Owner (FSBO)?
A FSBO means that the owner is selling the property without the help of a listing agent or broker.
FSBOs usually fall into one of two categories:
- The buyer and seller know each other. If you are selling to a family member or friend, you might find it easy to sell without an agent.
- The seller wants to save money and try to go at it alone. This includes listing, marketing, and showing the home, as well as negotiating the terms of the contract and organizing all repairs and documentation required to get the transaction to closing.
Drawbacks of Selling Your Home Yourself
There are some drawbacks to selling your home yourself. Many home sellers try to FSBO their home at first and end up hiring a professional after a while. Unless you have an extensive background in real estate, you might not be able to effectively handle all of the aspects of getting the home ready to stage for viewings, setting a fair price, marketing the home, negotiating the terms of the contract and other details. One of the biggest drawbacks is that you do not have access to the community of real estate agents with ready to go buyers, as a professional Realtor would have access to. There have also been many studies that show that homes sold with the help of a Realtor sell for 6%-10% higher price than homes that are sold without the expertise of a Realtor.
Next Steps After Contract is Complete
The first thing that needs to happen is the buyer needs to place a loan application with a lender and get their earnest money deposit in to the escrow agent. All inspections will need to be scheduled and any items that may be needed such as a survey, elevation certificate, or home warranty will need to get ordered. Be sure to give us a call to make sure we have all documentation we need from you to get the title work in order.
An Attorney-Run Title Company Will Work to Your Favor
When you work with our Fort Walton Beach real estate lawyers, you will find yourself in good company with regards to real estate transactions. Our lawyers do not represent you as legal advocate, but our attorneys work within the framework of each client’s contract closing documents. They are there to see that all is correct about your property and that clear title is on the horizon.
Even though you are not acquiring legal representation, you are acquiring the legal knowledge and expertise to deal with issues that arise with home and business title searches. All staff at any title company will do their diligence on your behalf, but an attorney-run Florida title company has the knowledge to know what legal issues, if any, may threaten the closing of the sale of a property. Once found, these legal issues can be resolved well before the closing is scheduled to take place.
When you are searching for a Fort Walton Beach real estate attorney for real estate closings, there are certain things to look out for:
- How long has the title company been in business? Have they weathered past decades where there was a boom and bust in the real estate market?
- Is the company transparent and does the team communicate well?
- What do their testimonials say about them?
- Is there access to your files 24/7 and can you request documents easily?
- Do they follow ALTA guidelines?
When you work with our team of Fort Walton Beach real estate attorneys, you are not just signing documents and buying title insurance. At Emerald Coast Title Services, you are our priority. We always strive to provide you with a unique and memorable closing experience.
Title searches may or may not uncover defects in the title. If this happens, you can trust your attorney-run title company and the title agents and examiners who make up the professional teams within the company. When you have trained and experienced legal experts working directly on an account, it means that any legal issues that might be holding up the closing of a sale can be resolved with room to spare.
All-Inclusive Title & Escrow Services Serving Fort Walton Beach
In addition to title searches, we offer escrow services for all your needs. Because access to clear title is so important before, during, and after a real estate transaction, leave it to the experts to provide you with title insurance that protects against loss of legal rights to your property.
You may know people who have chosen to convey property without properly closing with title company and lived to regret it. Real estate law is very complicated and just when you think all is well, you can run into unforeseen roadblocks that will have you wondering what to do next. When you partner with our team, you no longer have those worries.
Our Fort Walton Beach attorneys for real estate are licensed to operate throughout the state of Florida. Sellers and buyers want to be assured that the company they are dealing with is knowledgeable in the handling of both commercial and residential title, escrow services, closing services, and can provide you with an overview of your real estate transaction. We will even pay for a remote notary to close at your location if you are too far from any of our offices.
Our team of licensed attorneys, title agents, and examiners have access to the latest technology to make your real estate closing hassle-free and cost-effective. Our 5-star rating says it all. Contact us today for a no-obligation closing cost quote. There is no time like right now to find out how we can make your closing experience the best part of your entire purchase. Our team of experienced closing staff and real estate lawyers are waiting to hear from you.
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