Upset Before Settlement

It's the No. 1 complaint that real estate agents make about the home mortgage lending process. And it bugs their home buyer clients as well: The failure of settlement or escrow officials to provide a copy of the final settlement sheet before the closing.

In a new nationwide survey of real estate agents, 50 percent said their biggest gripe was the absence of HUD-1 closing documents for review a day ahead of the settlement. The HUD-1 is the form that lists settlement charges. Real estate agents told pollsters that although "required by government regulations," settlement sheets rarely arrive in advance, thereby denying home buyers an opportunity to see an itemized list of all their charges and fees. (Read More)

Source: Washington Post