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 We give re-issue credit. This could save our customers hundreds of dollars on each transaction.
We are experienced. Our company has over thirty-five years experience in the title insurance industry.
We are flexible. We will come to you at your home or office. This saves you both time and money. However, we are more than happy to host
closings in our beautiful conference room.
We are competitive. We will match or beat any quote given by another title company or attorney, GUARANTEED.
Our Staff:
Kimberly Von Hoffmann - Owner / President
Christy M. Fritz - Vice President
Nick P. Bodo - Office Manager
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
1. Why Choose Palm Beach Title Services?
At Palm Beach Title Services, our friendly and knowledgeable staff takes great pride in our personalized service and attention to detail, to ensure accurate and smooth closings. We understand how valuable saving time and money is to our customers. This is why we offer flexible appointment times and competitive pricing. When dealing with your real estate needs, you have many other things on your mind, so we strive to make your closing
the least of your concerns.
We offer expert service for customers who are Selling, Refinancing, taking out a Reverse Mortgage, or negotiating a Short Sale.
2. What exactly does a closing agent do and why do I need one?
The closing agent performs several functions. The closing agent customarily orders a title search and performs a title examination on the property. Next, the closing agent will order a boundary survey, payoff statements for the existing mortgage, lien letters from the city, a paid tax receipt from the county property tax collector, and estoppel letters from the homeowners association. In the weeks prior to the closing date, the closing
agent will set a time for closing, clear title and issue a title commitment. The day before closing, the buyer's lender will send final loan instructions along with lender documents to be signed at closing by the buyer. The closing agent prepares the final settlement statement and conducts the closing.
3. Who decides which closing agent or attorney handles my closing?
It is your choice. In Palm Beach County, the seller of the property chooses the closing / title agent. You could save hundreds of dollars by making the correct choice.
4. What happens at closing?
At closing, the sellers, buyers, and brokers, are usually all present. There are many documents that must be signed - these include the deed, bill of sale, etc.. Funds are deposited into the closing agent's escrow account for disbursement. Keys are typically exchanged at this time. Closing usually lasts about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
5. As the seller, what state fees and costs should I expect to pay?
There are several cost related to the sale of property that are present at every closing. As the seller you will pay certain state fees. Florida Documentary Stamp Tax on the Deed is computed at .70 per $100 of the sale price of the property, rounded up to the nearest hundred. The buyer will be responsible for paying the documentary Stamp Tax and the Intangible Tax on the Mortgage. Recording fees are $10.00 for the first page, $8.50
for each additional page. The Seller pays to record the deed (usually a 1-2 page document) and the Buyer pays to record the Mortgage.
6. What other fees are present at closing?
In Palm Beach County, the seller will also be responsible for paying for the title insurance on the property. A seller will also be responsible for paying the commission to any real estate broker involved. Other fees that occur at closing may include: title search, attorneys' fees, recording fees, courier/overnight fees, etc. These fees will vary among different closing agents. Some closing agents will charge a fee for closing, a fee
to examine title, a fee to prepare documents, etc. These fees can often be confusing and can quickly add up. Palm Beach Title Services charges a reasonable search fee and our closing Fee includes the title examination, document preparation, notary, and closing.
7. What about Real Estate Taxes?
In Florida, annual property taxes are due in March of the following year. Discounts apply if property taxes are paid before the due date. Tax bills are mailed in November of each year. At closing, property taxes are prorated as of the closing date.
8. What is Title Insurance?
Title insurance insures the marketability of the title on the property and assures the buyer that he or she is receiving "good title." Title insurance is important since many title problems may not be discovered until many months or years after the closing. Examples of potential title problems include: clerical errors, forged deeds or other documentation, falsification of records, improper legal descriptions, improperly indexed
liens on property, etc.. Title insurance protects the buyer and the buyer's lender against such title defects.
9. Do I have to choose the closing/title agent that my realtor recommends?
No. You, as the seller, have the right to choose the closing agent for the sale of your home. This decision will undoubtedly be the most important one you make while selling your home. There are many "title mills" out there. Title mills are companies that handle a very high volume of closing transactions. Closings are swiftly "processed through" often at the expense of personalized service and document accuracy.
10. When do I contact Palm Beach Title Services to handle my closing?
Call us as soon as you have entered into a contract on the sale/purchase of your home or if you are about to enter into a contract on your home and have a sure buyer. If you are refinancing, let your mortgage broker know that you have chosen us right away so they can send us your title order.
For complete information, please do not hesitate to contact us at 561-721-3450.
11. Who is your underwriter? Our underwriter is Old Republic National Title Insurance Company & Commonwealth Land America.
12. Will the customer receive a discount on the cost of the title insurance if they provide you with a prior policy? Yes. The owner's policy must be less than 3 years old on purchases
and there is no time limit on refinances.
We offer reissue credit to anyone that has an owner's policy.
13. How long does it take to receive a title commitment from the date of the order? Three to Five (3-5) business days.
14. Can the closings take place at your office? Yes and at no additional charge. We
will even travel to the location of the customer's request, including their home or office.
15. When a borrower is refinancing and they have a survey that is certified to them, do you require them to order a new survey in order to delete the survey exceptions from the final policy and issue a Florida Form 9 Endorsement?
If there have been no improvements made since the date of the last survey (including the erection of fences, adding a pool, etc.) then a new survey is not required if the borrower(s) provide us with an original of their most recent survey and execute a survey affidavit at closing attesting to the fact that there have been no new improvements. The only exception is when the lender requires a new survey.
16. Are there any other fees that you should be aware of? The only other fees that may be charged are the standard fees such as overnight
courier fees for payoffs, recording and lender
packages and a wire transfer fee. Most courier fees are $25.00 each and the incoming wire transfer fee is $30.00.
17. Who do we call if we have a problem? If your processor is unavailable and you need answers immediately, feel free to contact
Christiy Fritz at 561-721-3450.
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