Real Estate Closing Document

If you are involved in land you should understand the basics of real estate closing documents. They may not be exciting, but they are the method used to transfer land and secure loans on real estate.

Conveyance Documents

Conveyance documents are those that transfer (or convey) ownership of land. The most common is the Warranty Deed but there are others such as Special Warranty Deeds, Quit Claim Deeds, Grant, Bargain and Sale Deeds.

Each is different in certain ways but each transfers real estate from sellers to buyers. If buying you always want a Warranty Deed, as it transfer the land to you with the greatest guarantees from the seller.

Loan Closing Documents

Loan documents are used to secure the loan. The most common are the Trust Deed and Trust Deed Note. These two go together and are used by lenders nationwide.

Older loan documents include Mortgages and Real Estate contracts. Both are now rarely used, and are not recommended.

HUD 1 Settlement Statement

In buying or selling land the HUD-1 Settlement statement is the most important. All transaction costs are included on this closing statement. Although it looks similar, this is not a balance sheet nor does the bottom figure show the cost of the transaction.

The bottom lines show the amount of cash to be brought in or paid by the buyers and sellers.

Most Important Documents

There are many closing documents involved in a real estate closing. Many of these documents are to gather or disclose information. While all the documents are important  a few are the most important and should be reviewed carefully.

These are the HUD1 Settlement Statement, the Warranty Deed and the Trust Deed Note. You should review all figures on the the HUD-1 to assure you are not overcharged and all items are paid correctly.

The Warranty Deed is reviewed to assure that your names are spelled correctly and vesting is correct. If there is a loan involved in the transaction review the Trust Deed Note to insure the terms of the loan are correct. This would include loan amount, interest rate, payments, and payments dates.

Recording Of Documents

After closing, several documents are recorded to transfer ownership to the new owner and secure the interest of the lender. These are the Warranty Deed and the Trust Deed (or Deed of Trust).
The original deed is mailed to the new owner after the closing, although the most important step is the recording at the local County Recorder’s Office.

Review Documents At Closing

A mistake often seen at closing is the buyer or seller rushing through the documents, instead of reviewing them and asking questions. While many of the documents are routine and less important, those listed above is reviewed carefully and you should ask any questions necessary to fully understand them.