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At Katz Durell, we understand that buying or selling a home is one of the most important financial transactions in a person’s life. Our firm has extensive experience handling Purchase and Sales, Refinances, Contract Review, Deed Preparation, Title Examination and Curative Work and much more. Our close relationships with Lenders, Agents and Title Insurance companies allow us to get the transaction to the closing table.

Buying

You are on your way to homeownership, congratulations! Katz Durell is excited to be here working with you during this journey. Please read through the following steps that will be apart of your closing process. If you have any questions reach out to your closing team. 

  • Make sure to obtain a lender and fulfill their requirements for your loan. It is important to remain in contact with your lender and your realtor as you go through the mortgage process. Make sure to keep your lender and realtor informed of any changes that take place before closing.

  • Select a homeowner’s insurance company and decide if you will pay the first year’s premium before closing, or if you prefer for it to be collected at the closing. Be sure to provide proof of coverage to the closing attorney’s office before the closing date.

  • Katz Durell will email you a Buyer Information Questionnaire that should be completed as soon as possible.

  • Make the arrangements to transfer your required funds for closing. Your Closing Disclosure "CD" will help you determine the amount you will need to bring to closing. Katz Durell will provide you with a more accurate amount 48 hours prior to your closing date.

  • If your cash to close will be more than $5,000, Georgia law requires that you wire the funds to our account. Check with your banking institution well ahead of your closing date as some banks take up to one week to complete a wire transfer. You will need to initiate your wire transfer in plenty of time to have your funds reach our account before your closing date.

  • If your cash to close is less than $5,000, you may bring a personal, cashiers, or certified check made payable to Katz Durell, LLC. Please note that we cannot accept checks made payable to the buyer!

  • Lender’s Title Insurance is required by all mortgage lenders. However, Owner’s Title Insurance is a one-time charge for the protection of one of your largest investments, as well as peace of mind. The insurance will protect the owner against any defects in title which may not have been detected by the title exam. Please see the title insurance page for more information. 

  • Even though many mortgage lenders no longer require surveys for real property purchases here in Georgia, we strongly recommend that all home buyers purchase a survey for their new home. Please let your closing attorney know if you would like for a survey to be ordered. Please see our survey page for more information. 

  • If you are unable to attend your closing, please let us know if you want to set up a mail-away closing or if you would like to sign a Power of Attorney and have someone come to the closing to sign as your designated Attorney-in-Fact. Also, if only one spouse will be on the loan and you want to add your spouse to the title, please let us know prior to signing so we can prepare a deed for you to sign at the closing.

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For more information on home buying: Buying a home

Selling

Growing family? Time to downsize? or maybe you are relocating for work or family. When it comes to selling your home Katz Durell is happy to help you navigate the closing process so you can focus on what comes next. Please read through the following steps that will be apart of your closing process.

  • Keep in contact with your realtor and your closing attorney while you are waiting to close. Provide copies of any changes to the sales contract to the closing attorney’s office as soon as possible. If your contract requires you to pay for repairs to the home, be sure to keep copies of all receipts and provide them to the closing attorney’s office as well.

  • Katz Durell will email you a Seller Information sheet, which will need to be completed as soon as possible. Any delay in providing the needed information could result in additional fees from your lenders and/or homeowners associations for rush requests. Provide Katz Durell with the names, telephone numbers, and account numbers of any and all lenders that hold mortgages, loans, or equity lines on the property being sold. You will also need to provide social security numbers for all persons on the title to the property and those who are on the loans being paid off, as well as forwarding address information and telephone numbers for all sellers to the closing attorney’s office.

  • If you are selling property located in a subdivision with a homeowner’s association "HOA", we will need the the name and contact information for the association. The amount of yearly dues and the status of the dues will be confirmed with the association, and in some cases, the homeowner’s association will require that you pay for that statement of account up front.

  • A driver’s license or another form of government-issued photo identification is required of all sellers. If you are bringing funds to the closing, they must be sent to us via wire transfer. You will need to wire your funds to the location that is handling the transaction. If you will be receiving proceeds from the sale of your property, please let us know if you would prefer a check at closing, or if you would prefer that the proceeds be directly wired into your account. If you prefer a wire, please use the form that we will provide, which can be notarized at closing.

  • If the property you are selling is vested in a company or trust, there is additional information we will need to collect. Please have your trust agreement, operational agreement, and/or articles of incorporation available to provide to your closing attorney for review. If you are unable to attend your closing in person, please let us know whether you want to set up a mail away closing or if you want to sign a Power of Attorney designating an Attorney-in-Fact to come to the closing and sign on your behalf.

  • If you are receiving proceeds from the sale of an investment property and are not a resident of Georgia, please let your closing attorney know so that we may discuss potential tax implications with you.​

Refinancing

Refinancing is the process of getting a new mortgage by changing the terms of the one you already have on your home. There are a few reasons why you might be thinking of refinancing your mortgage —taking advantage of lower interest rates, switching mortgage companies, reducing monthly mortgage payments, or using money from the refinance for a big purchase. Which ever your reason being Katz Durell will assist you in the process. Please read through the following steps that will be apart of your refinancing process. 

  • Obtain a lender and fulfill the requirements for the loan. Contact your closing attorney to provide payoff lender information including account numbers, telephone numbers, and social security numbers for all borrowers on any loans being paid off.

  • Make arrangements to transfer your required funds to closing. Your Closing Disclosure will help you determine the amount you will need to bring to closing. Katz Durell will provide you with a more accurate amount 48 hours prior to your closing date.

  • If your cash-to-close will be more than $5,000, Georgia law requires that you wire the funds to our account. We will send you our wire instruction via secure email. Check with your banking institution well ahead of your closing date as some banks take up to one week to complete a wire transfer. You will need to initiate your wire transfer in plenty of time to have your funds reach our account before your closing date.

  • If your cash-to-close is less than $5,000, you may bring a personal, cashiers, or certified check made payable to Katz Durell, LLC. Please note that we cannot accept checks made payable to the borrower.

Wired Funds Requirement

Georgia Law O.C.G.A. §44-14-13 now requires that all funds for closings in excess of $5,000 be in the form of a wire. CASHIER’S CHECKS AND CERTIFIED CHECKS ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED. ALL FUNDS DUE FROM SELLERS MUST BE WIRED. Always confirm the wire is sent with the correct wire instructions.

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