Real Estate Closings

Louisiana Real Estate Closings

The real estate closing process is an integral part of buying residential and commercial property. As a buyer, you are concerned about the property you are acquiring and require full disclosure about the property, defects, and other issues. As a seller, you may hold your breath until the final document is signed, always cautious that something may fall through. As a lending company, you want to ensure that you are entitled to the first-lien position should the borrower default on the loan. At Fletcher W. Cochran, LLC / First Title Corp of St. Tammany, we strive for a smooth closing process for all of the involved parties.

To work with an experienced closing attorney for your next real estate transaction, contact attorney Fletcher W. Cochran, LLC / First Title Corp of St. Tammany to arrange a consultation. Since 1973, Attorney Cochran has facilitated real estate closings for his clients throughout southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi.

The Real Estate Closing Process

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments we make in life. Buyers are concerned with clean title to the real estate, hidden defects in the structures, their loan process, and ultimately a timely, smooth closing with no surprises at the closing table.

The process begins with the drafting and signing of the real estate contract and giving the seller an earnest money deposit. If necessary, the loan process begins with getting qualified to borrow the money. Then an appraisal is ordered to ensure the property's value is in agreement with the sales price. The title search is then requested. So many things can cause delays and the process can be very stressful as time restraints are in effect as of the date of signing the contract.

The Title Search

We begin the title search upon receipt of your purchase agreement. Our abstractors produce a title abstract which is the compilation of the research of the ownership of the subject property 50 years back in time. We search for any defects such as old tax sales, incorrectly filed successions, minor's mortgages, incorrect or improperly signed powers of attorney, missing corporate resolutions and certificates of authority authorizing prior owners to sell, missing signatures or erroneously signed documents, improperly prepared documents, to name a few.

Fletcher W. Cochran, LLC examines the abstract by reading each document and confirming it was executed properly, whether it conveys the property, it is in proper form, whether it encumbers the property, or whether it is a defect that needs to be cured.

Title Insurance

Once we have determined the status of the property, we issue a commitment to insure title to the property subject to any defects we have discovered. We then send the commitment to your lender so they are aware of the title status. If there are any defects, we immediately begin the process of discovering how to clear them so the deadline of your purchase agreement and/or interest rate lock can be met.

Contact a lawyer from our firm today to learn more about how we can help you in the closing process.

For more information on real estate law, please visit our Real Estate Information Center.