Let us answer some of your questions.

It is the final step in executing a real estate transaction. The closing date is set during the negotiation phase, and is usually several weeks after the offer is formally accepted. On the closing date, the parties consummate the purchase contract, and ownership of the property is transferred to the buyer.

Several things happen during closing:

• The buyer (or his/her bank) delivers a funds , generally a wire for the balance owed on the purchase price.
• Buyer and sellers sign necessary closing documents
• The seller signs the deed over to the buyer, and delivers the keys.
• The seller receives a check or bank transfer for the proceeds of the sale, less closing costs and mortgage payouts.
• The title company records the original deed with the County Clerk of Court’s office.

At Closing.

Title insurance is protection against loss arising from problems connected to the title to your property.  Before you purchased your home, it may have gone through several ownership changes and the land on which it stands went through many more.  There may be a weak link at any point in that chain that could cause trouble.  Title insurance defends you in a lawsuit attacking your title and either corrects the title problem or pays the insured’s losses up to the face amount of the policy.  The policy also protects you after you sell the property for defects occurring prior to your ownership that cause a loss to a purchaser if tittle was warranted by you.

An owner’s policy insures you for as long as you remain in ownership or have a liability by virtue of warranties to title given by you to a purchaser.

It is a detailed examination of all available public records on a property to verify the seller’s right to transfer ownership and to uncover any potential challenges you might face.  A title search should reveal such things as unpaid taxes, unsatisfied mortgages, judgments and liens.

Homestead Exemption is a constitutional benefit of up to a $50,000 exemption removed from the assessed value of your property. It is granted to those applicants who possess title to real property and are bona fide Florida residents living in the dwelling and making it their permanent home on January 1. Documentation that proves you were a resident at the homestead property is required.

OFFICIAL TIMELY FILING PERIOD JANUARY 1 – MARCH 1

You may file for your homestead exemption by mail, in person or on-line at www.leepa.org. If filing online, please read on-line filing instructions from their website carefully to determine eligibility. If you are filing by mail, you may download an application from the above website , complete same, attach required documentation and mail the form to their office.  You must have a photo copy of your recorded Deed.

To be eligible to receive the homestead exemption you must own the property (have legal title/interest) and permanently reside on/occupy the property. You must be able to document that you resided at your homestead property as of January 1.