In the escrow documents I have these two lines related to title charges:
Deed Recording Fee: First American Title Co. …$50.00
Mortgage Recording Fee: First American Title Co. …$85.00
Wire/Express: First American Title Co…$25.00
I suspect that deed recording is the same as mortgage recording and need not pay for $85.00
I would like to fight this. Should I?
Thanks.
Nope. I’m looking at our HUD-1 from a deal we were supposed to close today. Ours says:
Recording fees: Deed $12; Mortgage $68
If you didn’t have the mortgage on the property, you obviously wouldn’t be paying that one. It’s in addition to the deed.
I agree with Justin. However the amounts look high. Where I live the recording fees are nominal ($12 or $15). It seems the title company is trying to make some additional money from those fees. Unless they are the actual ones charged in your county. I would check. Good luck.
Deed and Mortgage are two very different documents. The deed transfers title from the seller to the buyer and is recorded in the county records to document current property ownership. The mortgage is a lien instrument whereby the buyers gives the lender a security interest in the property. The mortgage is recorded to document the lien and establish priority of lienholders. Recording fees are established by your local municipality/county and can be easily verified. Perhaps First American is marking up the fees to pad their earnings.
The fees are very expensive maybe because I’m in Southern California.
Can I record mortgage and deed myself by going to recorder’s office?
I asked this to the escrow and she said I can’t. Is this true?
Thanks.
Even if you recorded these documents yourself you still have to pay the recording fee as it goes to the municipality/county.
regex - the lender would not let you record the documents yourself. They want to make sure they get recorded timely. This is probably the reason why you can’t do it.
I would find out if the fees they are charging you are the actual amounts you have to pay to get the documents recorded. If they are, than what’s the point in asking to record the documents yourself. If they are not, you should ask the title company why they are asking you a premium. There is another line in the HUD to capture title company fees. They should put their fees there.
I hope this helps. Good luck.