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Tools and Guides

The fastest ways to get an answer without picking up the phone.

Closing Cost Calculators

Title premiums, transfer taxes, seller net sheets, and buyer closing costs. Pick your state and run the numbers.

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Odyssey Journals

Plain-language articles on title, settlement, and what to expect on the way to closing.

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Our Services

Searches, curative work, settlement, closings, title insurance, and deed preparation.

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Common Questions

Short answers on timing, owner’s and lender’s policies, and where we work.

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Be Ready

Closing Checklists

What to gather before closing day. Pick the list that fits you.

Government-issued photo ID for everyone signing
Your fully signed agreement of sale and any addenda
Lender contact details and loan officer name
Homeowners insurance binder with the lender listed
Funds to close by wire or certified check, in the exact amount on your closing figures
How you want to hold title, and the names exactly as they should appear on the deed
Power of attorney documents, sent ahead for review, if someone will sign for you

Government-issued photo ID for everyone on the deed
Mortgage and home equity loan account numbers for payoff requests
HOA or condo association contact details and account number
Your forwarding address and how you want your proceeds paid
A copy of your prior owner’s title policy or survey, if you have one
Estate, trust, or divorce documents if they affect ownership
Keys, garage openers, and codes for the day of closing

Government-issued photo ID for every borrower
Current mortgage statement and any second lien statements
Homeowners insurance declarations page
A copy of your existing owner’s title policy, if you have one
Your lender’s contact details and loan number
Marital status and the names of everyone currently on title

Fully executed contract with all addenda and amendments
Buyer and seller names, emails, and phone numbers
Earnest money details: amount, who holds it, and when it was received
Lender name, loan officer, and loan type
Commission instructions and any credits or concessions
HOA or condo association contacts
Target closing date and how each party plans to sign

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Tap each item as you gather it. Your checks are saved on this device. Every transaction is a little different. We will send you a list specific to your closing once your order is open.

Protect Your Money From Wire Fraud

Criminals target real estate closings by sending fake emails with changed wiring instructions. A few habits keep your funds safe.

Before you send any wire, call us at 484-477-9290 to confirm the instructions out loud.
Use a phone number you already know and trust. Do not use a number from the email that sent the instructions.
Treat any email saying the wiring instructions have changed as a red flag, and call us before doing anything.
After you send the wire, call to confirm it arrived.
If you think you sent money to the wrong account, call your bank right away and ask for a wire recall.

Plain Language

Title and Closing Glossary

The terms you will see on your paperwork, explained simply.

Abstract of Title: A summary of the recorded history of a property, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments.
Chain of Title: The sequence of owners of a property over time, traced through recorded documents.
Clear Title: Title free of liens, disputes, or defects that would get in the way of a sale or loan.
Closing Disclosure: The lender’s final statement of loan terms and closing costs, delivered to the borrower before closing.
Closing Protection Letter: A letter from the title underwriter that protects the lender, and in some states the buyer, against certain errors or misconduct by the closing agent.
Cloud on Title: Any claim or recorded item that raises a question about who owns the property or what is owed on it.
Curative Work: The steps taken to resolve title problems found in the search so the property can close.
Deed: The signed document that transfers ownership of real estate from one party to another.
Easement: A right for someone else to use part of a property for a specific purpose, such as a utility line or shared driveway.
Encroachment: A structure or improvement that crosses a property line onto a neighboring property.
Endorsement: An addition to a title policy that expands or adjusts its coverage for a specific situation.
Escrow: Money or documents held by a neutral party until the conditions of the transaction are met.
Lender’s Policy: Title insurance that protects the lender’s interest in the property for the life of the loan.
Lien: A legal claim against a property as security for a debt, such as a mortgage, tax bill, or judgment.
Owner’s Policy: Title insurance that protects the buyer’s ownership for as long as they or their heirs own the property.
Payoff Statement: A statement from a lender showing the exact amount needed to pay a loan in full on a given date.
Recording: Filing the deed, mortgage, and related documents with the county so they become public record.
Settlement Statement: The itemized accounting of every charge and credit to the buyer and seller at closing.
Title Commitment: The title company’s written promise to issue a policy, listing the requirements and exceptions that apply.
Title Search: A review of public records to confirm ownership and uncover anything that affects the title.
Transfer Tax: A state or local tax charged when real estate changes hands. Rates and who pays vary by state.