When you purchase a property, you have to decide how you want title to read after closing. “Title” is the legal paperwork that states who owns the property. Title can be held by a person, a company, or a trust. This post will explain what your options are and how your name will look on your title in various examples.
Examples:
John Smith owns a limited liability corporation, called Smith LLC. He also has a trust, called The J. Smith Trust. When John purchases a real estate property, he can choose how to hold title:
- Individually as John Smith
- Jointly, with his spouse Mary Smith (title reads John Smith & Mary Smith)
- Through Smith LLC
- Through J. Smith Trust
Choose legal title at escrow
Title typically is not specified when you make an offer on a property; rather it is typically done during the escrow period. The escrow company provides the buyer with a vesting worksheet, where the buyer can make his or her election. In fact, standard language in the offer to purchase real estate typically states: “Title shall vest as designated in Buyer’s supplemental escrow instructions.”
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