You'll need a reputable Southern Maryland or King George Virginia title company, title attorney or real
estate settlement company.
In both Maryland and Virginia home sales, home sellers are bound by what's known as fiduciary duty.
That means someone selling a house in either of these states needs to fully disclose any past problems
with the home such as sewer and water defects, termite infestation or improper property drainage.
There are many problems that could be invisible to the naked eye – you won't always be able to notice
these defects just by looking at the property.
When you find a Maryland or Virginia house you want to buy, you'll need to sign a purchase
agreement. This covers all aspects of the transaction, including home escrow closing, closing
conditions, and the condition of the Maryland or Virginia home at the time of the house sale.
Before you sign, however, you should get a thorough home inspection to rule out any potential
problems. Southern Virginia and Southern Maryland home inspections are done by licensed inspectors,
who can find problems in the foundation, roof, insulation, ventilation and much more. For Maryland
radon testing or Virginia radon testing, there will be an additional charge. Similarly, for Maryland and
Virginia termite inspections and septic inspections you will pay a fee above and beyond the regular
inspection.
When you buy a home in Maryland or Virginia, your title attorney (through the title company) has to
do a title search. This title work will let you know if the home seller has any liens against his or her
property. These liens could include outstanding mortgages, property tax or court payments and must be
paid by the home seller before the settlement can take place.
You'll pay closing costs during closing of your new home. Closing is when all the final papers are
looked over and verified, and both the Maryland or Virginia home seller and home buyer sign the
necessary papers. These escrow costs include the title search by the title attorney, processing fees, and
home inspection fees. In Maryland and Virginia, who pays which costs is often negotiated between the
home seller and home buyer.
You must sign a promissory note when buying a home in Maryland or Virginia with a loan. This
promises that you will pay back what you've borrowed from the bank for your mortgage. Also, if you
put less than 20% down for your home mortgage, you will need to have private mortgage insurance in
Maryland or Virginia. This protects the lender in case you default on your mortgage loan, and is
usually added to monthly payments of the loan.
Your King George Virginia or Southern Maryland real estate settlement company can assist you with
everything you need for the title search and escrow closing. Once you've finished all of the inspections,
title searches and paperwork, you're ready to take possession of your new Maryland or Virginia property.
Connie Fuksa is the owner of Foote Title Group, a real estate settlement, title company located in
Waldorf, Southern Maryland and King George, Virginia.
Get more information about Real Estate Settlement and Title Services.
