Barbara J. Trawinski is our Escrow Transaction Coordinator and a licensed Title Agent. She has over 30 years experience in the escrow and title industry. As an Escrow Transaction Coordinator and Title Insurance Agent, Barbara oversees all escrow closings working closely with Sellers, Buyers, Realtors and Lenders to ensure the closing deadline is met.

Once an escrow is opened Barbara receives the executed purchase contract and earnest money deposit and begins collecting and reviewing all required due diligence documents required by the Lender. She also orders a preliminary title report. Once the parties are ready to close, a settlement statement is prepared showing funds received, all costs required to be paid, and how funds are to be disbursed. All funds are held in an escrow trust account until closing.  Working with the Lender, Barbara sends out loan and other documents that must be signed for the closing.

The preliminary title report is based on a search of public records for existing deeds, liens, easements and other possible encumbrances on the real property being sold. Each item of record needs to either be approved or removed from title so the owner receives “clean title” at closing. If an existing mortgage is to be paid with loan proceeds, this will be paid by escrow as part of the closing process and will be clearly listed in the settlement statement. The settlement statement is required by law and is referred to as the CD/HUD1.

There is a lot that happens behind the scenes at the escrow office. Once the loan documents have been signed and Lender and Buyer funds are received, Barbara forwards payment to any existing lender, pays all parties who have performed services in connection with the closing, pays out any net funds to the seller, and orders a final search of the title to the real property before recording all the documents needed to transfer title to the new owner’s name. These are post-closing items handled by the escrow department. Once the real property transfer documents are recorded, the final Owner Title Policy is ordered and reviewed to ensure public records reflect the new owner as well as the new Lender mortgage, if applicable. You can contact Barbara directly by emailing her at Barbara@propertylawgroup.com.