Before You Go to Your Signing Appointment [Updated]

This will be the third version of this post since I started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2009. Things have overall changed for the better for consumers when it comes to the closing procedure. Last month, two new disclosures, the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, were introduced replacing the Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1 Settlement Statement effective for loan applications dated October 3, 2015 and after. This post applies to loans originated after October 3, 2015. If your loan application is dated prior to October 3, 2015, you should refer to this post instead.

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How to Shop for Title Insurance or Escrow in Washington

I’m often asked by my clients if they can select their title or escrow provider and the answer is a big YES!  Some feel that title and escrow fees are all within a close range and this simply isn’t the case. I have seen fees for these services vary by hundreds of dollars.

Here are some pointers you may find helpful if you are interested in shopping for your title or escrow provider: [Read more…]

Don’t Ask at the Signing Table “How’s My Rate?”

I just read a great post by S-Crow at Seattle Bubble about his frustrations over the rates he sees when he’s signing clients at his escrow company.   I relate since before April Fools 2000, I was in the title and escrow industry for 14 years and often times, at signing, borrowers ask something along the lines of “How is my rate?”

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Why Is My Payoff Higher Than The Principal Balance?

Why is my payoff higherI am often asked this question during a refinance from homeowners.

Your mortgage payment is paid in arrears.  For example, your February payment is paying January’s interest.   Remember when you bought or refinanced your home and the loan originator stated, “you’re going to skip one month’s payment” or “you won’t have another payment due until the following month after closing”?  Well, this is where that payment essentially catches up with you.  (Technically, it’s not “that” payment, you’re just always paying the previous month’s interest).

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What is Escrow?

Mpj042214800001_1One of the first-time home buyers I’m currently working with just called me with a few excellent questions.  She and her boyfriend have recently made an offer on their next home, with their agent which was accepted.  They now have handsome stack of papers from the escrow company (as if the paperwork from the lender wasn’t enough) that caused some questions.

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