Frequently Asked Questions | Select Title Company

Question 1

What does a title company actually do?

Accepted Answer

We're the neutral third party in your transaction. We verify ownership, clear any issues with the title, hold the funds in escrow, prepare the deed, and record the transfer with the county. Everyone in the deal relies on the title company to confirm the title is clean and the money moves safely.

Question 2

How long does a closing take?

Accepted Answer

Most closings take about 30 to 45 days from an accepted purchase agreement, depending on the buyer's financing — cash sales can close faster. Once you have a signed agreement, call us and we'll give you a realistic timeline for your specific transaction.

Question 3

What do I need to bring to closing?

Accepted Answer

Bring a photo ID — we handle the rest, including the deed, the settlement statement, and the recording. If you're closing with a remote online notarization, you'll complete identity verification online before the video session instead.

Question 4

Where can I close?

Accepted Answer

We close at our Brighton, Ann Arbor and Fenton offices, entirely online through our remote online closing service, or we can send a remote notary/closer to your location if getting to an office or signing online doesn't work for you.

Question 5

Can you hold the earnest money deposit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We hold the buyer's earnest money in escrow under the terms of your purchase agreement, and those funds are credited at closing. Keeping the deposit with a neutral third party protects both sides of the deal.

Question 6

What is title insurance, and why do I need it?

Accepted Answer

Title insurance protects your ownership rights. Before a policy is issued we search public records for problems — unpaid liens, judgments, missing heirs, forged documents — and resolve what we find. The policy then protects you against covered defects that surface later, for as long as you own the property.

Question 7

What's the difference between the owner's policy and the lender's policy?

Accepted Answer

The lender's policy protects only the lender's loan amount, and lenders require it on financed purchases. The owner's policy protects your equity in the home. One doesn't replace the other — if you're buying, the owner's policy is the one that protects you.

Question 8

Who pays for title insurance in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

In Michigan, the seller customarily pays for the owner's title insurance policy, and the buyer pays for the lender's policy when there's a mortgage. Everything in a purchase agreement is negotiable, though. We can quote both policies so each side knows exactly what it's paying for.

Question 9

What's the difference between "with exceptions," "without exceptions," and expanded coverage?

Accepted Answer

The names describe how the policy handles exceptions. A "with exceptions" policy carries the standard exceptions on its face — things like parties in possession or survey matters. A "without exceptions" policy removes those standard exceptions, so the title is covered with fewer carve-outs. Expanded coverage goes further still: it strips out the standard exceptions and adds protections the standard form doesn't include. Which one is right depends on the property and your plans for it.

Question 10

What does tax proration mean at closing? Can I get an estimate?

Accepted Answer

Tax proration is the day-by-day split of the year's property taxes between buyer and seller at closing. Taxes in advance are summer taxes, billed July 1 and covering July 1 through June 30, and winter taxes, billed December 1 and covering December 1 through November 30. Because both bills are paid ahead of the period they cover, the seller has paid for days beyond the closing date, and the buyer reimburses the seller at closing for that unused portion — that's proration in advance. When taxes are in arrears the prorations for both summer and winter tax bills change to a calendar year covering January 1 though December 30. Starting on January 1st the seller is charged their per-day share at closing and that amount is credited to the buyer who will pay the bill covering both owners' periods when it comes due (if applicatable). If a seller pays the summer tax bill that comes out July 1st and/or the Winter tax bill that comes out December 1st, that amount is deducted from the seller responsibility. How the split is applied in your transaction comes from the purchase agreement. And yes — you can estimate it yourself: our tax proration calculator takes your closing date and the summer and winter tax amounts, prorates each bill day by day, and gives you a breakdown of the split you can download or email as a PDF.

Question 11

Who gets credit for the closing day itself?

Accepted Answer

There's no single rule — how the closing day itself is counted depends on the purchase agreement, and conventions vary from one agreement to the next. Our closers apply whatever the agreement between buyer and seller says when computing the proration, so the day count always matches what both parties signed.

Question 12

Is a remote closing the same as a remote online closing?

Accepted Answer

No — a remote closing is any closing that doesn't take place at one of our offices. That could mean our closer travels to you with the documents and you sign them in person at your location, or it could mean a remote online closing (RON), where you sign electronically over a live video call with a commissioned online notary. A remote online closing is one specific kind of remote closing — the fully online kind.

Question 13

Is a remote online closing legal in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Michigan law recognizes remote online notarization, and our online notary is commissioned to perform notarizations over live video. Documents notarized this way are fully valid for real estate transactions.

Question 14

Can I do a remote online closing if I'm out of state or overseas?

Accepted Answer

Usually, yes — that's one of the biggest advantages of remote closing. As long as you can complete identity verification and join the video session, your physical location generally doesn't matter. Let us know where you'll be signing from when we schedule.

Question 15

What does a remote online closing cost?

Accepted Answer

The remote online closing service itself is $175, in addition to our regular title fees and closing costs. It's itemized on your settlement statement like any other closing charge.

Question 16

What if my technology fails during the session?

Accepted Answer

It's no problem — we simply reconnect or reschedule, and nothing is finalized until every document is complete. We also run a quick tech check with you beforehand to catch issues early.

Question 17

Will Select Title Company ever email me wire instructions?

Accepted Answer

No. We deliver wire instructions through CertifID's secure platform. If you receive what looks like our wire instructions as a plain email with bank details, treat it as suspicious and call us at (810) 220-1370 to verify.

Question 18

What should I do if I get an email with new wiring instructions?

Accepted Answer

Do not act on it. Call your Select Title Company closer at a number you already have and verify verbally before anything is sent. Legitimate changes are rare, and we will always confirm them by phone.

Question 19

I already wired money and now suspect fraud. What now?

Accepted Answer

Call your bank immediately and request a wire recall, then file a report with the FBI at ic3.gov and contact law enforcement. Speed is critical — the first hours offer the best chance of recovery.

Question 20

Why do you verify my identity?

Accepted Answer

Wire fraud relies on impersonation. Verifying identities through CertifID confirms that the people in the transaction are who they claim to be before any wire information is shared or acted on — we also want to make sure the seller and buyer are who they say they are.

Question 21

What if I can't complete identity verification online?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is lost — we simply ask you to visit one of our offices (Brighton, Ann Arbor or Fenton) before closing with two forms of identification. We will examine and document them in person, and the transaction proceeds.

Answers Before You Ask

Questions we hear every week

Working With a Title Company

Title Insurance

Property Taxes at Closing

Closing Remotely

Wire Fraud and Identity Verification

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