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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I pretty much stick with one primary closing attorney unless I have a client who already has one they are committed to using, which is very rare. Other agents have the right to use their own... they have no say over whom I use. No negotiations needed.

Jun 21, 2019 03:42 AM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

We generally let the seller decide which one we will use, unless the buyer or their lender objects, then we negotiate.

Jun 21, 2019 01:16 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

No, In MA we use attorneys that represent the lender for closings

Jun 21, 2019 04:38 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I have one I recommend; however, it is the clients choice.

Jun 21, 2019 03:25 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

We are an attorney state so I have nothing to do with that. Don't have that problem but I'm sure you're saying that some agents want to steer the business to their fav's.

Jun 21, 2019 04:41 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

1. Yes - I've been using them for 16+ years. In Santa Clara County the listing agent/seller chooses title and escrow.  In counties all around Buyers choose. 

I've never seen a counter to change title/escrow.

 

Jun 21, 2019 07:34 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,186
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

I had an agent LIE once, insisting on a title company that 'the buyer's aunt worked at'. My gals at that title company told me no one here is related to that buyer! (it actually concerned me that a relative would be handling the deal, so I asked)

We did the deal, and just like most icky agents, the dishonest party is no longer licensed.

NO we do not have a 'set' title company. We do deals with local, regional and even out of state national companies for corporate clients routinely. As long as they can do an AZ transaction and are communicative, no problem!

I still prefer a local company I can walk into and if need be, do the gorilla on someone's desk!

Jun 21, 2019 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,067
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It seems that this is a choice that once again can vary based on the transaction, the people involved and other factors.  

Jun 21, 2019 05:49 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Most of our agents in office using only one - Global America Title Services. Great team and always on the top of transaction.

Jun 21, 2019 05:36 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Here in NH it is the buyers choice of title. It is rare I object, but if i see one company, i speak up asking them to move and tell them why. 

Jun 21, 2019 05:06 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Definitely have a preference.

Other agents must present a compelling argument to cause change in the preferred choice.

Jun 21, 2019 04:40 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,381
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

He who pays the freight picks the provider. Sometimes  it is not good. When my people pick, I provide my favorite team to get the job done

Jun 21, 2019 04:08 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,549
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

We only have one title company in town Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS so no problem here.

Jun 21, 2019 05:46 AM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

In CT we are not involved in that part of the transaction, it's on the attorney.

Jun 21, 2019 05:21 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

In western PA the lender or buyer chooses the title/settlement company.

Jun 21, 2019 04:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,623
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Yes, I have a set escrow team and two title that share every-other-deal.

I counter my team in often. I fight to keep my team in tact and only if it jeopardizes the deal in multiple offers do I concede. My team loves seeing their company name on many of my counter offers.

Jun 21, 2019 08:03 AM
Rainer
382,309
Sally Lawrence
Advantage Real Estate - Tehachapi, CA
Broker, CHS, e-Pro, SFR, REALTOR®

I am pretty adamant about using my preferred Licensed Escrow team.  Licensed Escrow companies are covered by the CA Department of Business Oversight and must adhere to strict requirements. One of the ways I am able to control that for my sellers is simply to open a pre-escrow with my preferred team.  For my buyers, I simply explain to the other agent that the lender is out of the area but works successfully with my team regularly and will ensure the smoothest closing.  

Here in CA we are experiencing more and more Controlled escrow companies.  It's important to understand that "Controlled" is actually a misnomer.  We are seeing these crop up, I believe in some cases, as an additional income stream for discount Brokers.  

One of my agents is in a transaction right now where the discount Broker is charging the seller only 1% commission but attempted to force our buyer to use his owned escrow company.  Fortunately, he failed to provide the CA required Affiliated Business Statement (ABS) specifiying his fees with the counter offer and instead disingeniously said that escrow would be "seller's choice."

I'm pretty sure that if it were made clear to the seller that using his Broker's escrow company would have cost him $1125 instead of $417.50 he would never have agreed to it.  Because we didn't get the ABS with the Counter (required to show the relationship and fees charged) we wrote an adendum to the contract switching to a Licensed escrow company instead.  Saved both the buyer and the seller over $700 each just on the escrow fee.

(sorry that was kind of a long response)

Jun 21, 2019 07:40 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

our clients are usually the seller of the transaction.... we give them three names of attorneys to call for prices and questions.....

if we represent the buyer, those same three names are given....

Jun 21, 2019 07:22 AM
Rainmaker
508,218
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

I have a preferred company that I like to use. But we don't always get to choose. It is customary for the buyer to choose in AZ. But sometimes the seller has special needs especially if it is a flip or probate, etc.

Jun 21, 2019 06:56 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,153
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

When I was involved in volume operations yes to a set team. Now, I use any one of the number of teams out there that help close deals.....

Jun 21, 2019 06:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

As a buyers agent I ask if they would like to work with title company they used before. If they don't have it - offer company we work with.

Jun 21, 2019 06:26 AM
Rainmaker
901,524
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

We use closing attorneys in NC. They generally choose the title provider. Buyers choose the attorney. On some occasions, such as in a new construction, seller/builder may request the attorney. 

Jun 21, 2019 06:15 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

With the focus on new construction that is normally set beforehand.

Jun 21, 2019 06:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

We spread the business among those supporting our efforts.  Regarding your second question: It doesn't happen

Jun 21, 2019 06:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Our Team uses the same title/escrow company title/escrow team for all or our transactions. Once in a while, we get a challenge. RESPA says the party that pays for the service gets to choose. We respect that, of course.

Jun 21, 2019 06:03 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

No, in CT attorneys handle the closings and they select title companies, who pay them.

Jun 21, 2019 11:24 AM
Rainmaker
620,692
Ernie Steele
Lebanon, PA

We have in-house title and mortgage people who I recommend but the buyer is free to choose someone else if they like... Having folks in the same office makes things very convenient... Enjoy your day!

Jun 21, 2019 09:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Anyone who has been around has their favorites.

Jun 21, 2019 09:08 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Paul,

The majority of our buyers/developers used the same escrow company, and the same escrow officer.  She was the answer to all our prayers, no one ever objected to her...We all loved her....A

Jun 21, 2019 08:47 AM
Ambassador
3,125,651
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

I have a few title companies that I recommend to clients. Unless they have a preferred one, they choose from the list.

Jun 21, 2019 08:41 AM
Ambassador
5,229,945
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Closing attorneys are not part of our Contract so, there is no negotiating who we will use.

I provide a list of several favorites, located in the corners of the area that I serve. This way, if the buyer doesn't have an attorney, they can select one that is convenient to either their work or their new home.

Jun 23, 2019 09:10 PM
Rainmaker
4,935,667
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

In our state, It is in the contract who pays for the title company and they get to pick the company then.

 

Jun 23, 2019 09:52 AM
Ambassador
5,048,883
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Yes, on the seller side. Never had an agent counter offer on this.

Jun 21, 2019 08:30 PM
Rainmaker
711,752
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

We all have our favorites, but there are a number of excellent escrow officers in our market who do a good job.  Usually people do not counter escrow officers - unless they are really bad.

Jun 21, 2019 04:48 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,472
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

We are required to ask the Sellers where they want to close, but they don't have any experience, so they rely on us.  IF the buyer wants to use a different title company in CO, the buyer has to pay the seller's insurance, so most don't ask to change.

Jul 12, 2019 12:09 PM