An abstract is a written report of the history of the title to a piece of land. It is an account of recorded documents, court proceedings, wills, mortgages, taxes, previous sales, easements and all other factors that affect the ownership or use of the land. It is this report that one of our attorneys will examine and render his title opinion as to the merchantability of the property in question. Based on this opinion a commitment for title insurance will be issued eventually followed by the final title policy.

Here are just a few examples of what can happen:

- Someone else owns an interest in your title
- Defective recording
- You do not have a legal right of access to and from the land
- A document affecting your land was not properly signed
- Forgery
- There are liens on your title for labor and or materials furnished before the effective date of the policy (unless you agreed to pay for these)

Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects an owner or lender against unforeseen losses arising from defects in the title to real estate. Unlike other insurance, the payment is one time only, at closing, and extends for as long as you own the property.

Most lenders require a title insurance policy to protect their interests. It is recommended that the purchaser of real estate acquire an Owner's Policy to take advantage of discounts and to protect the single largest investment you may make.

Both the Lender's Policy and Owner's Policy premium rates are set by the Commissioner of Insurance in Louisiana and is based on the amount of the mortgage to be insured or the value of the real estate being acquired. Please email any one of our staff members for a quote or more information.

This is the document that you are given at closing that details all the costs associated with a mortgage and/or transfer of property. All closing costs associated with the transaction (buyers, sellers or borrowers) are itemized and accounted for with a sum total of what is due to/from the seller, buyer, or borrower.

Absolutely! As soon as the closing date, location and time is scheduled, the lender sends us a "closing package" from which we work up the settlement statement.

We will be more than happy to prepare a Power of Attorney, which allows you to designate someone else to sign on your behalf. Please call one of our staff members immediately to set this up. The Power of Attorney must be notarized with your signature and we must be in receipt of the executed copy on the day of the closing.

A sale of real estate generally takes an hour. A refinance closing takes about thirty minutes. Of course, in life, things happen and closings can always be longer or shorter.

Your HUD-1 settlement statement will have this figure on it. We can send it to you by fax or email.

Please always feel free to call our office (877-581-6427) at anytime. Dominique, Kay or any one of our attorneys can answer any questions you may have.

Funds over $1,000.00 must be in certified form for closings (cashier's check, wired funds, etc).

Yes, we will accept cash but we recommend a cashier's check for your protection.

You must bring a picture ID to your closing.

You can always call our office toll free at 877-581-6427 and any member of our staff can route you to the expert for your question. You can email questions to info@homesteadtitlecorp.com or dominiqueespinosa@homesteadtitlecorp.com.