• Ensures the property being purchased has clear, marketable title
• Ensures that the property has legal access and is not landlocked
• Obtains and reviews the title commitment
• Clears all underwriter title requirements
• Intakes and disburses the deposits and closing funds as escrow agent
• Coordinates the closing between the Seller(s), Buyer(s), Realtors, Attorneys and Lender (if applicable)
• Intakes and reviews the loan package for loan transactions
• Issues the Owner’s Title Policy insuring the Buyer’s title to the property against potential claims
• Issues the Lender’s Title Policy insuring the priority of the Lender’s Mortgage on the property

Following is a more detailed breakdown of the Title/Settlement Agent’s role:

1. Searches and Examines Title to the Real Property

Upon receipt of a new contract or title order from a lender, we order a title search through our title underwriter. The title search sets forth the property’s history as recorded in the Official Records of the county in which the property is located. The Official Records include prior deeds, mortgages, liens and judgments. A tax search is also pulled and reviewed to ensure all taxes that are due are collected at closing. For a purchase transaction, a lien search is ordered to ensure that there are no unrecorded municipal liens or violations against the property. The title underwriter then prepares a Title Commitment which includes Title Requirements. The Title Requirements set forth all items required to be resolved for Seller(s) to convey to Buyer(s) clear and marketable title. As Title/Settlement Agent we take all steps necessary to clear the Title Requirements. These steps include, but are not limited to, obtaining payoffs of any outstanding liens, judgments or mortgages and collecting payment for the required payoffs on the Settlement Statement. We also prepare and/or obtain any corrective instruments required to clear the Title Requirements. We communicate the status of title clearance to all parties throughout the transaction.

2. Escrow/Settlement Agent

As a neutral third party, we hold the buyer’s deposit and buyer and lender closing funds in a secure escrow account. The closing funds are released only when the contract conditions and title requirements have been met and, on loan deals, when the lender provides funding authorization.

3. Closing Coordination

We prepare the settlement statement which sets forth tax and maintenance assessment prorations, payoffs of mortgages, liens and judgments, government recording charges, commissions, title premiums and any other closing costs. On loan files, preparation of the Settlement Statement or Closing Disclosure includes balancing with the lender’s figures and collecting payoff of credit cards if instructed by the lender to do so. In addition, our office intakes and reviews the loan package and advises the lender of any discrepancies so that corrections can be made pre-closing. Once the lender has approved the Settlement Statement, we distribute it to all the parties for review and comment. Once we balance with the lender and the lender releases the loan package to us, we schedule the signing.

4. Disbursement and Recording

After signing and once the lender provides funding authorization, our office disburses the settlement proceeds to the appropriate parties including paying off existing loans and liens and disbursement to realtors and seller(s). We then record any title curative documents, the Deed, Mortgage and any documents required to be recorded by the lender or Title Underwriter.

5. Issuance of the Final Title Insurance Policy

Once the required documents have been recorded, we then issue the Owner’s and Lender’s Title Policies. Your Owner’s Title Policy protects your title to the property for as long as you own it.

Why It Matters Which Title/Settlement Agent You Choose

As a top-ranked title company with decades of experience, we catch title issues early on and work to resolve them quickly. We immediately communicate these issues to the parties so that all parties have a clear understanding of what is necessary for the transaction to proceed to closing. We then commence title clearance. If it appears there will be an unavoidable closing delay because of clearing title, we communicate this right away and advise what steps are being taken to clear the issue as well as an estimate of how long it will take to do so.

Choosing a less-qualified Title/Settlement Agent may result in last-minute surprises or closing delays.

American Dream Title Company — a Top 5 Aventura title company for 2025 — has closed thousands of transactions throughout the State of Florida, all with collaboration, when needed, with our parent law firm, Leopold Korn, P.A.

We have closers available who speak Spanish, French and Russian.

Start Your Closing With American Dream Title Company

American Dream Title Company is based in Aventura, Florida and serves buyers, sellers, lenders, and real estate professionals throughout the State of Florida. We were recognized as a Top 5 Title Company in Aventura for 2025 (BusinessRate, based on verified Google reviews). We were also the top title agent for Fannie Mae throughout our 11-year tenure with it prior to its moving settlement services in-house. We issue policies as an authorized agent for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Old Republic Title (which has merged with The Fund), Stewart Title Guaranty Company, and First American Title Insurance Company.

Call (305) 964-8020 or (305) 356-8423, email us at shorton@americandreamtitle.com or visit us at 18851 NE 29th Ave, Suite 410, Aventura, FL 33180 to request a quote or open a new title order.

The post What Is a Title Company’s Role in the Closing Process? appeared first on American Dream Title Company.

Am I Eligible to File?

You must meet the following requirements:

• Legal or beneficial title to the property recorded in the Official Records of the county where the property resides
• Reside on the property
• Be a permanent resident of the State of Florida
• Be a United States citizen or possess a Permanent Residence Card (green card)

How Do I Apply?

You may complete an application form online, by mail or in person by March 1st of the year for which you are applying. Check with your local property appraiser’s office for specific instructions on how to file in your county.
http://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/LocalOfficials.aspx

What Information Do I Need To Provide?

To apply for homestead exemption by mail or in person, you must submit a copy of the following documents:

1. Florida Driver’s License or Florida Identification Card and at least one of the following:
   • Florida Vehicle Registration
   • Florida Voter Registration Card
   • Recorded Declaration of Domicile (affidavit of residency obtained through the County Compt roller’s Office)
2. Social Security numbers are required for all owners making application and their spouses, even if the spouse does not own and/or reside on the property.
3. If you are not a United States Citizen, your Permanent Residence (green) Card (front and back).

When Do I Apply?

Filing for homestead exemption begins January 1st and ends March 1st. All exemption applications for that year must be filed no later than March 1st. You may also pre-file for the following year from March 2nd through December 31st.

The post What is Homestead Exemption? appeared first on American Dream Title Company.

Owner’s title insurance protects your right to your home.

By searching, clearing and insuring the title to your home before you buy it, your owner’s title policy offers protection for your property rights for as long as you and your heirs own your home.
If ownership of your property ever comes into question, an owner’s title insurance policy protects you from expensive legal problems that could result in the loss of your home.

How Title Insurance Works:

As property changes hands, mistakes and irregularities – often made long before you expressed interest in the property – can place your ownership in dispute. The seller may have…

• Avoided disclosure of using the property as collateral for an unpaid loan
• Fraudulently claimed to be the sole owner
• Failed to pay real estate taxes

Even a simple mistake in the recording of legal documents, improper execution of legal instruments or the reappearance of undisclosed or missing heirs can result in the loss of your home.

Title Insurance: The Ultimate Property Protection

If ownership of your property is ever challenged, title insurance will defend your possession of the property–and assume the legal costs of that defense–for as long as you and your heirs own the property. What’s more, if any challenge to your property’s title proves to be legitimate, title insurance will pay for your losses, just as your title insurance policy provides.

20 Important Reasons Why You Need Owner’s Title Insurance

1. Forgery
2. Fraud in the execution of documents
3. Undue influence on a grantor
4. False impersonation by someone purporting to be the owner of the property
5. Errors in surveys
6. Undisclosed or missing heirs
7. Wills not properly probated
8. Fraud in the execution of documents
9. Mental incompetence of a grantor of a deed
10. Transfer of title by a minor
11. Heirs born after the execution of a will
12. Incorrect legal descriptions
13. Non-delivery of deeds
14. Unsatisfied claims not shown on the record
15. Deeds executed under expired or false
    powers of attorney
16. Confusion due to similar or identical names
17. Dower or courtesy rights of spouses of
    former owners
18. Incorrect indexing of the land records
19. Clerical errors in recording legal documents
20. Delivery of deeds after the death of the
    Grantor

We will dive deeper into each of these reasons in upcoming articles, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!

The post 20 Important Reasons Why You Need Owner’s Title Insurance appeared first on American Dream Title Company.