Selling a home can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. Your title company can help it go more smoothly! Read on for a simple home sales strategy – or check out our three minute how to video!

Southern Title serves as a  neutral third party that is here to securely assist in the transfer of ownership from you to the buyer, according to the terms of the sales contract.

Once we receive a bilaterally signed contract, we’ll ask you to complete an escrow agreement if we are holding a deposit. This provides direction on what we should do with the earnest money deposit in case the contract cancels. We’ll also ask you to sign a disclosure allowing us to email you and to communicate and share information necessary to facilitate the closing with your REALTOR or other related parties. Federal law requires us to get your permission to share your personal information with other parties.

Soon after we receive your contract, one of our associates will contact you regarding the following information. If you would like to complete this information through a secure portal, ask us to send you a Digital Docs invitation.

• MORTGAGES ON THE PROPERTY: Please provide detailed information, including loan number and payment address, for all mortgages on the Home Equity lines, even if they have a zero balance, will also require detailed mortgage information in order to satisfy the original loan requirements.
• BUYER PROTECTION PLAN: If a home warranty product is being provided and shown on contract, we’ll need to know the purchase amount to be collected.
• INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS): We are required to report the sale of the property to the IRS, so we’ll need your Social Security number(s) and forwarding address. Rest assured, we have robust information security protocols I place to protect your personal information.
• FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN REAL PROPERTY TAX ACT OF 1980 (FIRPTA): If you are not a United States citizen, we may be required to deduct and withhold a tax equal to 10% or 15% of the amount realized, depending on the value of other property (generally the amount paid for the property).
• POWER OF ATTORNEY: The use of a power of attorney must be approved in advance of settlement by our underwriter. If you are planning to use a power of attorney, let us know as soon as possible to allow time to properly review the
• MARITAL STATUS: Spouses may be required to sign closing documents even though they do not appear to hold a title and their name does not appear on the deed. Spouses must always sign the deed when homestead property is being conveyed, even if they are not in the title.
• JUDGMENT SEARCH: Any judgments, tax liens, etc., filed against you, which attach to the property, must be paid at closing. If you have made any improvements to the home, please be sure you paid your contractors and closed any open permits.
• MAIL-AWAY: If you are unable to attend the closing, provide the address where the closing documents should be mailed and a contact phone number. Your signature on certain affidavits, real estate deeds, and other documents may require the services of a notary, which will need to be scheduled in advance.

After closing, we’ll give you copies of all the documents you signed as well as your proceeds in the form of a wire transfer or check! Just let us know how you’d like to receive them.

It is our mission to provide you smooth, simple, and satisfying closing experience. Please contact us today for more information.

The information provided by Southern Title Holding Company, LLC on our website does not and cannot contain legal advice. The legal information provided is for general informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for legal advice.

Before taking any actions based upon such information, you are encouraged to consult the appropriate legal professionals or licensed attorneys. We do not provide any kind of legal advice. The use or reliance of any information contained on this is is solely at your own risk.