SuretyLand Title

Answers to the questions we hear most.

A real estate closing has a language of its own. Here are plain-English answers to the questions our clients ask most often. Don't see yours? Call us at (251) 343-4200 and we'll be glad to help.

Title Insurance · The Closing Process · Wire Fraud

Title Insurance

What is title insurance?

Title insurance protects you against problems with the ownership history of your property: things like undisclosed liens, forged documents, recording errors, or claims from unknown heirs. Unlike other insurance that protects against future events, title insurance protects you from problems that already exist in the public record but haven't been discovered yet.

What's the difference between an owner's policy and a lender's policy?

A lender's policy protects your mortgage lender's interest in the property and is required by nearly all lenders. An owner's policy protects your equity: your down payment and everything you build from there. We issue both, and an owner's policy purchased at closing protects you for as long as you or your heirs own the property.

How much does title insurance cost?

It's a one-time premium paid at closing, with no monthly or annual payments. The amount depends on the purchase price of the property. Call us for a quote on your specific transaction.

The property is newly built. Do I still need title insurance?

Yes. Even brand-new construction sits on land with a history. Unpaid contractor bills can become liens on a new home, and the land itself may carry easements, restrictions, or claims from earlier owners.

The Closing Process

What actually happens at closing?

Closing (or "settlement") is the meeting where ownership officially transfers. You'll review and sign the final documents, funds are collected and disbursed, and the deed and mortgage are sent for recording with the county. Your closing agent walks you through every document and answers questions as you go. Most closings take under an hour.

What is escrow?

Escrow means a neutral third party (that's us) holds money and documents until every condition of the sale is met. Your earnest money deposit, for example, sits safely in our escrow account until closing day, when it's applied toward your purchase. Neither buyer nor seller can touch it in the meantime, which protects everyone.

What should I bring to closing?

A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) is essential. If you're bringing funds, they generally must be wired or in the form of a cashier's check, since personal checks usually can't be accepted for closing funds. We'll tell you the exact amount and acceptable payment methods before closing day, along with anything specific to your transaction.

What is a title search, and what can it turn up?

Before closing, we search the public records for anything affecting the property: mortgages that need to be paid off, judgments or tax liens against a party, estates that weren't fully settled, easements, and more. Finding these before closing is the point: most issues can be resolved so you take title clean.

Protect Yourself: Wire Fraud

Before you wire any money, call us.

Wire fraud is the single biggest threat to real estate buyers today. Criminals impersonate title companies and realtors by email and send convincing but fraudulent wiring instructions. Always call our office at (251) 343-4200, using the number from this website (not from an email), to verify wiring instructions by phone before sending funds. We will never email you a last-minute change to our wiring instructions. If you receive one, it's a scam. Call us immediately.

We strongly recommend our secure portal

Whenever possible, use Qualia Connect, our encrypted client portal, for closing documents and messages. Unlike regular email, it can't be intercepted or impersonated, which is exactly how wire fraud starts. Not comfortable with online portals? That's perfectly fine. Call us or stop by the office, and we'll handle everything with you directly.

Know the red flags

Be suspicious of: a change to wiring instructions of any kind; pressure to act immediately or wire "today"; emails sent at odd hours or from addresses that are one letter off from the real ones; requests to keep the transaction quiet; and messages claiming a phone call "isn't necessary." Legitimate instructions almost never change, and we will never rush you.

After you wire, confirm it landed

Call us to confirm we received your funds the same day you send them. The first hours matter most if something has gone wrong.

If you suspect fraud, act immediately

Call your bank first and ask them to recall the wire, then call us at (251) 343-4200, and report the incident to the FBI at ic3.gov. Recovery is sometimes possible when the fraud is reported within the first 24 to 48 hours, and speed matters far more than embarrassment. This can happen to anyone.