Pinnacle Services

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What is Title Insurance?

Even though land will exist for generations, many people develop different rights and claims to a particular piece of property. Governmental agencies, public utilities, lenders, private contractors and sub-contractors also have rights to property. The rights of a current owner – which often involve family and heirs – may be obscured by the claims of others.

Before a real estate transaction closes, Pinnacle will perform an extensive title search and individual examination of all recorded documents; and we will issue a Title Report. This ensures title problems will be cleared up prior to the closing.

Even after the most careful research, some title flaws may exist and may go undetected. Among the more common flaws are forgery, mistaken legal interpretations, invalid court proceedings, defective deeds, confusion due to similarity of names, previously unrecognized rights of spouses and undisclosed heirs. These problems may surface at any time in the future.

Why Do I Need Title Insurance?

Title Insurance is the most effective, most accepted and least expensive way to protect your real estate investment. The interest of every owner and lender are routinely insured by standard Owner’s and Lender’s policies. 

What is Escrow?

An escrow is a deposit of funds, deeds or other documents by the principals in a real estate transaction) for the delivery to another party upon completion of agreed upon terms.  The Escrow Officer is a neutral third party who protects the interests of the principals in the transaction.

Why Do I Need an Escrow?

Escrow ensures that no money or property will change hands until all terms of the agreement have been satisfied.

What Your Escrow Officer Does for You:

• Receives and holds all funds for disbursement upon closing
• Coordinates with service providers and lien holders to clear title issues and assist with the terms of the sales agreement
• Pays bills and disburses all deposited funds as authorized, such as recording fees, loan and lien payoffs, payments to appraisers, warranty companies or other service providers and seller proceeds
• Acts upon instructions from the principals and lenders, and relays necessary communication to all parties
• Conducts the loan closing according to the lender’s instructions
• Arranges for the issuance of the Owner’s and Lender’s Title Insurance Policies
• Closes the escrow and records deeds and security instruments once all terms and conditions have been met

What Your Escrow Officer Can Do:

• They take pride in their work - we never forget that we work for you! 
• They have more experience and more practical knowledge than the competition 
• We regularly put them through on-going training,  in fact, most of them  participate in classes each month
• They regularly team up with real estate agents to bring the most value to both the buyer and seller

What Your Escrow Officer Cannot Do:

• Provide legal advice
• Negotiate terms of the transaction
• Provide investment advice
• Act without mutual written instructions from the principals