Full-service title insurance across Florida.
From contract to closing, our attorneys and trained professionals handle every step.
Types of transactions.
Independence Title provides title services for the following types of transactions:
- Residential Sale and Purchase for Cash Transactions
- Purchase Transactions Financed With a Mortgage
- For Sale by Owner Sale & Purchase Transactions
- 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges
- Short Sale Purchase and Sale Transactions
- Mortgage Refinances
- New Construction Purchase Transactions
- Land Purchase Transactions
- Commercial Transactions
- Reverse Mortgage Transactions
- Government FHA & VA Financing Purchase Transactions
How we protect your investment.
Title Search
We search the public records via our underwriter's database and our own searches to determine legal ownership and the existence of liens, mortgages, judgments, and any matters that can affect the title to the property.
Title Examination
Our attorneys and specially trained staff review the documents revealed in the search of the public records. Although a document may be recorded in the public records, it must be examined to determine that it complies with title standards and requirements.
Payoff Verification
We verify payoffs of mortgages and association maintenance and assessments so that at closing these liens and balances are paid off in full. We also obtain lien letters from the municipality to make sure no balances are owed on any city charges or that there are no open violations affecting the property.
Tax Records Review
Real property tax records are examined to determine the status and payment of ad valorem and non-ad valorem real estate taxes.
Lender Coordination
We coordinate with the buyer's lender on the details of the loan, obtain the lender's closing costs, and receive the lender's mortgage documents to be signed by the buyer at closing.
Title Insurance
We issue a title commitment and title policy to the new buyer and their lender, guaranteeing that both receive an actual insurance policy warranting that the title to the property is good and marketable. This is a one-time fee paid at closing.
Document Preparation
We prepare the closing documents to be executed by both the buyer and seller at closing: the HUD Settlement/Closing Statements, the transfer of title documents, and the mortgage documents.
Closing
We perform the closing of the entire transaction. This is usually done in our office, but can be done at the realtor's or mortgage broker's office. After closing, we record the documents in the public records and issue the final title insurance policies.
Selling your home without an agent?
When the owner of a property sells their home without the assistance of a real estate agent, it is called a “For Sale by Owner” transaction.
Once a buyer and seller agree on the terms and conditions of a sale, one of the attorneys at Independence Title will help you prepare the contract. We will also hold the escrow deposit and handle the entire process all the way through closing.
One of our attorneys does a title search of the public records. We then issue a title insurance commitment to the buyer and lender (if applicable). The title processor assigned to your file will send for mortgage and association payoff estoppels, prepare the final closing statement and any required documents for the closing. At closing, the real estate and loan documents are executed by the parties and the sales proceeds are disbursed to the seller.
There are no attorney fees charged to prepare the contract or perform these services, provided Independence Title handles the closing and issues the title insurance.
Title-related closing costs.
Listed below are the categories of customary title insurance related charges and a brief explanation of what each fee is for.
Settlement / Closing Fee
A regulatory required charge paid to the settlement agent/title company for its preparation of all closing documents, preparing the HUD closing statement, and for conducting the closing. Except in a refinance, this fee is typically charged to both the buyer and seller, though it may vary.
Abstract or Title Search
The charge for the title company's search of the public records and for the examination of the search results and documents. Following the search and examination, a title insurance commitment is prepared which sets forth what documents must be obtained, executed, and recorded to pass and insure clear title to the property.
Document Preparation
A fee sometimes charged by Todd E. Surber, P.A. for the cost of attorneys preparing all of the closing documents to be signed by the parties.
Attorney Fees
In some transactions, either the buyer or seller engages the services of an attorney to represent them for the closing. However, when the title company doing the closing is owned by an attorney, there usually are no attorney fees charged beyond the standard title-related closing costs.
Title Insurance
There are two types of title insurance. The Owner's Policy protects the owner (buyer) for any claims made against their title up to the value of the purchase price. The Lender's/Mortgagee Policy protects the lender for any claims made up to the value of the mortgage.
Courier Fees
The cost to send documents via overnight or same-day courier when necessary.
Electronic File Conversion & Scanning Fee
The cost to scan and save your file for confidential safekeeping by the closing agent for the mandated seven-year period following the closing.