Every real estate transaction is different. Citizens Title Agency has assembled answers to frequently asked questions from buyers, sellers, real estate professionals, lenders, and property owners preparing for closing.
For a detailed explanation of title insurance and the protection it provides, please visit our What Is Title Insurance? page.
Citizens Title Agency opens the closing file, reviews the contract, collects the necessary information, orders the required title and property searches, coordinates with the lender and real estate professionals, addresses title requirements, prepares closing documents, and provides instructions for completing the closing.
Buyers may be asked to provide contact information, government-issued identification, marital-status information, lender details, homeowners insurance information, vesting instructions, and any applicable trust or business-entity documents.
Providing the requested information promptly can help prevent unnecessary closing delays.
Property may be held individually, jointly, through a trust, or through a business entity. The manner in which ownership is taken can have important legal, tax, estate-planning, and creditor-protection consequences.
Citizens Title Agency cannot choose the appropriate form of ownership for you. Buyers should consult a qualified attorney or tax professional before making this decision.
Buyer closing costs may include lender charges, title and settlement fees, title insurance, recording charges, survey costs, inspections, association charges, prepaid taxes and insurance, and other transaction-specific expenses.
The final amount is established after the closing figures are completed and, when financing is involved, coordinated with the lender. Citizens Title Agency will provide the amount due and verified funds-transfer instructions before closing.
A survey can identify boundary lines, improvements, encroachments, easements, setbacks, and other matters affecting the property. Whether a survey is required depends on the transaction, lender requirements, the availability of an acceptable existing survey, and the buyer’s circumstances.
No. A title search examines ownership and other matters affecting title to the property. It does not evaluate the property’s physical condition.
Buyers should consider appropriate property inspections during the inspection period provided by the purchase contract.
Eligible Florida homeowners who make a property their permanent residence may qualify for homestead property-tax benefits and certain creditor protections. Eligibility and filing requirements are determined by applicable law and the county property appraiser.
Keys are ordinarily released after the closing has been completed and the transaction has been authorized to fund, unless the purchase contract provides otherwise.
Sellers may be asked to provide:
Providing this information early can help Citizens Title Agency identify and address potential issues before closing.
Citizens Title Agency obtains a payoff statement from the lender and disburses the required amount from the seller’s closing proceeds. Any remaining proceeds are distributed according to the final settlement statement and verified disbursement instructions.
A lien generally must be paid, released, resolved, or otherwise addressed before or as part of the closing. Citizens Title Agency will identify the applicable title requirement and explain what documentation may be needed.
Citizens Title Agency will identify the issue and determine what may be required to resolve it. Depending on the matter, this could include obtaining a payoff, satisfaction, release, corrective deed, affidavit, probate documentation, court order, or other curative documentation.
Discovering an issue does not necessarily mean the transaction cannot close. Many title matters can be resolved with sufficient information and time.
Seller closing costs may include title charges, title insurance when contractually required, real estate commissions, transfer taxes, mortgage payoffs, lien payments, association charges, property-tax adjustments, recording expenses, and other transaction-specific costs.
Yes. Citizens Title Agency provides a Seller Net Sheet tool that can help sellers and real estate professionals estimate closing expenses and anticipated net proceeds.
A net sheet is an estimate. Final figures remain subject to the purchase contract, title search, payoff information, taxes, association charges, prorations, and other transaction details.
Sale proceeds are ordinarily disbursed after the transaction has closed, all required documents and funds have been received, and the deed and other necessary documents are ready to be recorded.
Yes. Because wire fraud is a serious concern, bank information and wiring instructions must be submitted and independently verified through Citizens Title Agency’s approved security procedures.
Title insurance premiums are based primarily on the amount of insurance being issued and the rates applicable to the property’s location. The final cost may also depend on whether lender coverage is required and whether the transaction qualifies for a reissue or other applicable credit.
Use the title rate calculators available on our website or contact Citizens Title Agency for a transaction-specific estimate.
Yes. Title insurance is generally purchased with a one-time premium paid at or before closing. Unlike homeowners insurance, it does not ordinarily require monthly or annual premiums.
An owner’s title insurance policy generally is not legally required, but it is strongly recommended to protect the buyer’s ownership interest. A mortgage lender will ordinarily require a separate lender’s title insurance policy.
The purchase contract determines which party is responsible for selecting the title company and paying for the owner’s title insurance policy. Local practices vary, and these terms may be negotiated by the buyer and seller.
An owner’s title insurance policy protects the buyer’s ownership interest against covered title defects. A lender’s title insurance policy protects the mortgage lender’s financial interest.
A lender’s policy does not protect the homeowner’s ownership interest.
No. A title insurance policy is subject to its terms, conditions, exclusions, exceptions, and coverage limits. The title commitment and final policy should be reviewed carefully to understand the scope of coverage.
An escrow deposit, sometimes called an earnest-money deposit, is money deposited by a buyer and held by a neutral escrow agent under the terms of the purchase contract.
The purchase contract identifies the escrow agent responsible for holding the deposit. Citizens Title Agency can serve as escrow agent when designated in the contract and when the deposit is accepted in accordance with our procedures.
No. The right to receive an escrow deposit is governed by the purchase contract and the circumstances surrounding the transaction.
Citizens Title Agency cannot decide which party is legally entitled to disputed funds or release those funds without proper written authorization, a final order, or another legally permitted basis.
Citizens Title Agency must continue to hold the disputed funds until the parties provide appropriate written instructions or the dispute is resolved through a contractually or legally authorized procedure.
Available payment methods depend on the transaction and Citizens Title Agency’s procedures. Always confirm payment instructions directly with our office before transmitting funds.
Yes. Escrow deposits are maintained in a designated escrow account and handled in accordance with applicable requirements and the terms of the transaction.
Closing costs can include title insurance, title and settlement services, lender charges, appraisal and survey costs, recording charges, transfer taxes, association fees, property-tax adjustments, prepaid expenses, commissions, mortgage payoffs, lien payments, and other transaction-specific items.
For many residential mortgage transactions, the Closing Disclosure is a lender-required form showing the final loan terms, projected payments, closing costs, and other financial details.
Questions concerning loan terms or lender charges should be directed to the mortgage lender.
An ALTA Settlement Statement provides an itemized accounting of the charges, credits, adjustments, payoffs, and funds associated with the transaction.
Property taxes may be prorated to allocate the applicable tax obligation between the buyer and seller based on their respective periods of ownership. The calculation depends on the property’s location, available tax information, and the terms of the purchase contract.
Association assessments may be prorated or otherwise allocated between the parties according to the purchase contract, association information, and transaction circumstances.
Estoppel, application, transfer, capital-contribution, approval, or other association fees may also apply.
Yes. Closing figures may change when updated lender charges, mortgage payoffs, tax information, association fees, credits, repairs, prorations, or other transaction details are received.
Yes. Our Buyer and Seller Estimate Tool, Realtor Net Sheet, Lender Title Quote Platform, and experienced closing professionals can assist with preliminary estimates.
Citizens Title Agency is always available to help you prepare the most accurate estimate possible for your transaction.
Not always. Depending on the transaction and document requirements, Citizens Title Agency may be able to arrange an office closing, off-site signing, mobile notary, mail-away closing, remote online notarization, or another approved signing method.
Yes, in many cases. Advance coordination is important because certain documents may require notarization, witnesses, original signatures, or lender approval.
It may be possible, but international signings often require additional planning. Authentication, notarization, apostille, embassy, tax, lender, and document-delivery requirements may apply.
Please notify Citizens Title Agency as early as possible if any party expects to sign documents outside the United States.
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification. Some transactions may require a second form of identification or additional supporting documents.
The name on your identification should match the name appearing on the closing documents.
Many signing appointments take approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Financed transactions or closings involving trusts, estates, business entities, international parties, or extensive documentation may take longer.
Many documents can be electronically signed. However, certain deeds, mortgages, affidavits, lender documents, or other instruments may require notarization, witnesses, original signatures, or lender approval.
Citizens Title Agency completes the closing process, disburses authorized funds, pays applicable transaction expenses, submits documents for recording, and completes the title insurance process.
Final recorded documents and the owner’s title insurance policy are provided when available.
Criminals may gain access to an email account or create a convincing imitation address and send fraudulent wiring instructions. These messages may appear to come from a title company, lender, real estate professional, buyer, or seller.
Independently verify all wiring instructions before sending funds. Call Citizens Title Agency using a trusted telephone number—not a number provided in an unexpected email—and confirm the receiving bank, account information, recipient, and amount.
Treat any requested change to wiring instructions as potentially fraudulent. Never rely on an email alone. Call Citizens Title Agency using a previously verified telephone number before sending or redirecting funds.
Do not reply, click links, open attachments, or call a telephone number contained in the suspicious message. Contact Citizens Title Agency immediately using independently verified contact information.
Immediately contact your bank and Citizens Title Agency by telephone. Time is critical. You may also need to notify local law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
Yes. Real estate professionals may contact Citizens Title Agency for preliminary title insurance estimates, closing-cost calculations, and seller net sheets when preparing or evaluating an offer.
Contact Citizens Title Agency to discuss the transaction. In certain circumstances, preliminary work may begin once the necessary property and party information is available.
Yes. Citizens Title Agency coordinates cash purchases, lender-financed purchases, refinances, and other residential and commercial real estate transactions.
Yes. Citizens Title Agency works with lenders and clients on conventional, FHA, VA, and other eligible financing transactions.
Yes. Transactions involving trusts, estates, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, or other entities may require additional documentation and advance review.
Please contact Citizens Title Agency as early as possible so the required documents can be identified and reviewed.
Yes. Citizens Title Agency can request applicable estoppel information and coordinate association-related information needed for closing.
Association approval, application, transfer, capital-contribution, right-of-first-refusal, or other requirements may also apply.
Yes. Citizens Title Agency can coordinate transactions with buyers, sellers, real estate professionals, and lenders located throughout Florida, New Jersey, and outside those states, subject to the requirements of the transaction.
Use the estimate and title-rate tools available on our website or contact Citizens Title Agency directly. We are always available to help you prepare the most accurate estimate possible for your transaction.
Use the Schedule an Appointment button on our website or contact Citizens Title Agency directly.
Every real estate transaction is unique. Contact Citizens Title Agency and a member of our team will be pleased to discuss your title, escrow, or closing question.
Where does Citizens Title Agency have offices?
Citizens Title Agency has conveniently located offices in:
Our experienced team serves buyers, sellers, real estate professionals, lenders, attorneys, and investors throughout Florida and New Jersey.
Yes. Citizens Title Agency can coordinate and close eligible real estate transactions throughout Florida and New Jersey. The property does not need to be located near one of our physical offices.
We work with buyers, sellers, real estate professionals, lenders, attorneys, and investors throughout both states. Depending on the transaction, we can also arrange an office closing, off-site signing, mobile notary, mail-away closing, or approved remote signing.
Citizens Title Agency provides title, escrow, and settlement services for a broad range of real estate transactions, including:
Transaction services and requirements may vary according to the property, location, financing, parties, title conditions, and applicable underwriting requirements.
Not necessarily. Many transactions can be completed without visiting one of our offices. Depending on the transaction and document requirements, Citizens Title Agency may arrange an off-site signing, mobile notary, mail-away closing, remote online notarization, or another approved signing method.
Yes. Citizens Title Agency regularly coordinates closings involving buyers, sellers, lenders, real estate professionals, and investors located in other states or countries when the property is located in Florida or New Jersey.
International and out-of-state transactions may require additional advance planning, identification, notarization, authentication, lender approval, or document-delivery arrangements.
The information provided in these frequently asked questions is general in nature and is not legal, tax, financial, or accounting advice. Transaction requirements vary according to the contract, property, parties, lender, underwriter, location, and applicable law.Please contact Citizens Title Agency regarding your specific closing and consult an appropriate licensed professional when legal, tax, financial, or accounting advice is required.delivery arrangements.
Citizens Title Agency, LLC
FL: 12250 Tamiami Trl E Suite 302, Naples, Florida 34113 NJ: 3100 Atlantic-Brigantine Blvd. Brigantine, NJ 08203
Fl: (239) 261-1650 NJ: (833) 388-3300