FAQ
Straight answers.
The questions Florida buyers, sellers, and Realtors ask us most often.
- What does title insurance actually protect against?
- Title insurance protects against past events that could threaten your ownership — unsatisfied mortgages, unpaid taxes, judgments against a prior seller, forged signatures, missing heirs, undisclosed easements, and restrictions on how you can use the land. It's a one-time premium that lasts as long as you own the property.
- Who pays for title insurance in Northwest Florida?
- In Northwest Florida (the Panhandle), custom is that the seller pays for the owner's policy and the buyer pays for the lender's policy. This is negotiable in the contract, and we spell out exactly who pays what on the Closing Disclosure.
- What's the difference between an owner's policy and a lender's policy?
- The owner's policy protects you, the buyer, for your full purchase price. The lender's policy protects the mortgage lender for the loan amount only. Both are typically issued at closing; the lender's is usually required if you're financing.
- How long does a typical closing take?
- For a standard financed residential purchase, most files close in 30–45 days from contract. Cash closings can close in as little as 7–14 days. New construction and commercial deals vary widely.
- What should I bring to closing?
- A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport), your wire confirmation or cashier's check if you're bringing funds, and your checkbook for small last-minute items. If you're on the loan, bring your spouse or co-borrower.
- What is a reissue credit?
- If the property was insured under an owner's policy within the last several years, you may qualify for a discount (a reissue credit) on the new owner's premium. Ask your closer whether a prior policy is available — the seller usually has a copy.
- How do I know a wire instruction is real?
- Omega National Title will never email you a change to wiring instructions. Before sending any funds, call your closer at a number you verified from this website or your closing packet, and confirm every digit of the account and routing number verbally. If anything feels off — stop and call us.
- Are you ALTA Best Practices certified?
- Yes. Every Omega National office is Best Practices certified for compliance, ethics, and security by TQS Services. We comply with CFPB and Data Call requirements and maintain segregated, three-way-reconciled escrow accounts.
- Can you close for buyers or sellers out of state?
- Yes. We coordinate mail-away closings routinely — an overnight courier package, a mobile notary in your city, and remote coordination with your lender. Remote online notarization (RON) is available where the transaction permits.
- Do you handle commercial and 1031 exchanges?
- Yes to both. We handle multi-parcel commercial closings, entity-to-entity conveyances, and coordinate with qualified intermediaries for 1031 like-kind exchanges under IRS safe-harbor rules.