Answers to the questions we hear most

A title company researches the history of a property to confirm the seller has the legal right to sell it, identifies any liens, judgments, easements, or other issues that could affect ownership, issues title insurance to protect you and your lender, holds escrow funds, prepares closing documents, conducts the closing, disburses funds, and records the deed and mortgage with the county.

No. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the choice of title and settlement company is yours. Lenders and agents may make recommendations, but you have the right to shop and choose any qualified title company you prefer — including Locust Grove Title and Settlements, LLC.

Title insurance helps protect against certain covered title issues, such as undisclosed liens, ownership defects, forgery, recording errors, and other covered matters, subject to the terms, conditions, and exceptions of the policy. It is a one-time premium paid at closing and, unlike most insurance, covers risks that existed before the policy was issued.

A lender's policy protects the lender's interest in the property up to the loan amount and is almost always required when financing a purchase. An owner's policy protects you, the buyer, up to the full purchase price. We strongly recommend owner's title insurance — it is the only policy that protects your equity.

A standard residential closing typically takes 30 to 45 minutes once everyone is at the table. The full transaction — from order opening to closing — usually takes 30 to 45 days for a financed purchase and can be shorter for cash transactions. Title issues, lender delays, or HOA requirements can extend the timeline.

Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID) for every person signing. Funds required for settlement must be sent by wire transfer only — we cannot accept cashier's checks, ACH transfers, money orders, or personal checks for funds due at closing.

Funds required for settlement can be sent through our secure ClosingLock platform or wire. We do not accept cashier's checks, ACH transfers, money orders, or personal checks for closing funds. Earnest money deposits may be accepted by personal check if received at least ten (10) business days before closing to allow sufficient time for funds to clear. For your security, all wire instructions are delivered and verified through ClosingLock. We will never send or change wire instructions by regular email. Before sending funds, download our instructions through ClosingLock and contact our office directly at 540-972-2009 using a known, trusted phone number if you have any questions. Protect yourself from wire fraud by never relying on emailed wire instructions.

Remote closing options may be available depending on the transaction, lender, document requirements, and state/notary rules. We do not offer traditional mail-away closings where documents are mailed out, notarized independently, and returned. If you cannot attend closing in person, please contact our office as early as possible so we can review available remote or approved notary options.

Remote or approved mobile notary signing may be available depending on the transaction, lender, title, and underwriting requirements. Please contact us early if you cannot attend closing in person. For full details on remote signing, mobile notary, funds, and POA, see our Closing Policies page.

No. We do not offer traditional mail-away closings. When a mobile notary signing is available, our office coordinates the appointment through an approved third-party signing service and the notary meets with the signer at an approved location.

Possibly. If a Power of Attorney will be needed or used for closing, please notify our office as early as possible. All Powers of Attorney must be reviewed and approved before closing, and additional lender, title, recording, or notary requirements may apply. Waiting until the day of closing may delay settlement.

Closing costs include title insurance premiums, settlement fees, recording fees, transfer taxes, lender fees, prepaid items (such as taxes and insurance), and other transaction-specific charges. In Virginia, certain costs are customarily paid by the buyer and others by the seller, but most items are negotiable in the purchase contract. We provide a detailed Closing Disclosure or settlement statement before closing.

Escrow is the neutral holding of funds and documents by our office during the transaction. Earnest money deposits, loan proceeds, and seller payoffs all flow through escrow. We disburse funds only when all contractual and legal conditions for closing have been met.

Most title issues — old liens, satisfied mortgages still showing as open, name discrepancies — can be cleared before closing. We will work with the seller, attorneys, and any relevant parties to resolve them. Serious defects may require legal action, additional curative work, or in rare cases, restructuring the transaction. We will keep you informed throughout.

Yes. We regularly handle FSBO purchases and sales. Without a real estate agent involved, we take extra care to walk both parties through the contract, contingencies, and closing process. We do not provide legal advice — for contract drafting or disputes, you should consult an attorney.

Call our office at 540-972-2009, email office@locustgrovetitle.com, or use the form on our Contact page. We will need basic transaction details (property address, sales price, parties, contract date, lender) to open a file and provide a fee estimate.

In Virginia, sellers typically receive their net proceeds within 24 to 48 hours after signing their closing documents. Virginia is a wet settlement state, which means settlement funds cannot be disbursed until all closing conditions have been satisfied. Pursuant to Virginia law (Code of Virginia § 55.1-903), the settlement agent cannot release funds until the deed and any applicable deed of trust have been recorded in the local land records.