Escrow Officer // Closer

Primary Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Greet customers and vendors enthusiastically and professionally, either in person or over the phone with emphasis on representing Homestead Title and Escrow in a way that builds customer and vendor relationships and provides for a positive corporate image.
• Answer all customer inquiries in a timely and accurate manner.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with all customers; take responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Participate in department marketing activities which may include attending after hours functions as requested or required.
• Take on the role of the liaison with all parties in the transaction, including buyers, sellers, listing agents, buyer agents, lenders, attorneys, etc.

Pre-Closing Review

• Review real estate contracts and amendments/addendums.
• Review Closing and Lender Instructions for closing conditions, endorsements, and proper disbursement.
• Determine escrow requirements, clarifying buyer, seller; obtain clear title, resolving title defects, satisfying existing liens and encumbrances against property or principals.
• Provide a proactive approach to notifying customers of potential roadblocks or issues.
• Gather relevant contracts, deeds, mortgages, policies, and satisfactions for title insurance purposes.
• Ensure properties have no legal or tax-related restrictions. Ensure all prior year taxes have been paid by Seller. Ensure all HOA dues are current and/or properly prorated.
• Monitor incoming requests from water companies and staff for manually prorated bills.
• Obtain Clear to Close approval using FHA, VA, and Conventional lending guidelines.
• Review all documents for balanced, error-free Settlement, accuracy in names, accuracy in addresses, accuracy in legal description before finalizing and presenting Closing.

Explain Closing Documents

• Explain the costs of loans, appraisals, requirements and endorsements, and fees to closing.
• Explain closing and lender documents to all parties involved according to Presentation Standards, and obtain signatures.

Post-Closing

• Claim wires, balance file; disburse funds, deliver commission checks and documents according to instructions from Realtor or new Lender; existing Lender, and title company.
• File clean out.
• Analyze and proof all documents for typographical errors, proper signatures, proper notarization, proper legal description, omission of data, record documents with appropriate state / county agency.
• Pay all water / sewer bills.
• Resolve all post-closing quality reconciliation issues; maintain detailed records of all actions for audit purposes.

Other Duties

• Aid in training new employees.
• Secure additional resources if needed to secure workload completion in a timely manner.
• Coordinate processing functions for closing efficiencies and system improvements.
• Perform other related duties assigned by manager; additional hours may be required at high volume.