Settlement FAQs

how to read an alta settlement statement

by Dr. Stanton Gerlach Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A standard settlement statement has a column for the seller’s debits and credits on one side, a column for the buyer’s debits and credits on the other, and a description of the charge in the middle. Below we use the ALTA form as an example and break it down, line by line. Source: (American Land and Title Association)

Full Answer

What is an Alta/Closing Disclosure/HUD-1 statement?

ALTA Settlement Statements are used in conjunction with the HUD-1 settlement statement. Under the new CFPB regulations, most real estate transactions require the use of the new Closing Disclosure Form. However, the HUD-1 settlement statement is still used in certain cases such as: Home equity revolving lines of credit.

What is an affidavit of title and Alta statement?

c. American Land Title Association (ALTA) Statement. Not unlike the Affidavit of Title, the ALTA statement contains representations regarding the status of the property’s title (e.g., the lack of easements and other encumbrances, the lack of any other claims to possession or lien on the property).

What is a HUD-1 Settlement Statement?

The HUD-1 Settlement Statement is a standardized mortgage lending form in use in the United States of America on which creditors or their closing agents itemize all charges imposed on buyers and sellers in consumer credit mortgage transactions.

What is an ALTA mortgage?

  • Documentation: The most common characteristic of an Alt-A loan is a lack of documentation verifying a borrower’s income, assets, or employment.
  • Credit score: Alt-A mortgage loan borrowers have clean, but not perfect, credit histories. ...
  • Debt-to-income ratio: Lenders allow for higher debt-to-income ratios in Alt-A mortgage loans.

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How do you read an Alta statement?

The ALTA statement is an itemized list of all the cost components that the seller and the buyer are supposed to pay during the home closing process to multiple parties. The statement segregates these cost components into 8-9 sections. Each cost component could either be debited or credited to the concerned party.

How do you read a settlement?

0:217:31How To Read A Settlement Statement From Your Real Estate ClosingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo on page one of the closing disclosure you're going to see the parties identified at the top soMoreSo on page one of the closing disclosure you're going to see the parties identified at the top so seller and buyer the property. Address and the loan. Amount.

What does POC mean on Alta settlement statement?

Amounts paid to and by the settlement agent are shown. Items marked “(p.o.c.)” were paid outside the closing; they are shown here for informational purposes and are not included in the totals.

How do you read a closing statement for tax purposes?

6:3713:06How To Read A Closing Statement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStatement you can see on the left it shows the price of 50 000 as a credit. Or addition to theMoreStatement you can see on the left it shows the price of 50 000 as a credit. Or addition to the seller. And on the right it shows 50 000 as a debit or subtraction.

Is a settlement statement the same as a closing statement?

A settlement statement is a document listing the terms and conditions of a settlement agreement and details all related costs or credits due to each party. A mortgage loan settlement statement is commonly known as a closing statement.

Where does the purchase price appear on a settlement statement?

Where does the purchase price appear on the settlement statement? debit for the buyer credit for the seller. Where does the buyers new loan appear on the settlement statement? Credit buyer- The buyers debit column lists all the charges to the buyer; the credit column shows how the buyer is going to pay the charges.

What is DT in title?

In real estate in the United States, a deed of trust or trust deed is a legal instrument which is used to create a security interest in real property wherein legal title in real property is transferred to a trustee, which holds it as security for a loan (debt) between a borrower and lender.

What is POC B on closing statement?

Paid outside closing (POC) is the fees or payments rendered outside of normal title insurance and underwriting fees due at the time of closing a loan.

What is POC title?

Person of color or people of color.

What part of settlement statement is tax deductible?

The only settlement or closing costs you can deduct on your tax return for the year the home was purchased or built are Mortgage Interest and certain Real Estate (property) taxes. These can be deducted in the year you buy your home if you itemize your deductions.

What is the primary purpose of the settlement statement?

A settlement statement provides a breakdown of all the closing costs and credits involved in a real estate transaction or refinance.

What is a closing statement example?

An example of a closing argument is the lawyer opening with a statement, "How can my client be in two places at once?". The lawyer could then incorporate the theme of an alibi, arguing that the defendant could not have possibly committed a crime because they weren't even in the country when the crime took place.

What is settlement in real estate?

What is settlement? Property settlement is a legal process that is facilitated by your legal and financial representatives and those of the seller. It's when ownership passes from the seller to you, and you pay the balance of the sale price. The seller sets the settlement date in the contract of sale.

What is the primary purpose of the settlement statement?

A settlement statement provides a breakdown of all the closing costs and credits involved in a real estate transaction or refinance.

What is a settlement statement for taxes?

The HUD-1 Settlement Statement is a breakdown of the expenses home sellers and homebuyers incur in a real estate sale. The settlement statement gives both parties a full picture of the expenses attached to the transaction.

What's the term for a charge that either party has to pay at closing?

Closing costs are fees due at the closing of a real estate transaction in addition to the property's purchase price. Both buyers and sellers may be subject to closing costs.

What is a settlement statement?

A settlement statement is an itemized list of fees and credits summarizing the finances of an entire real estate transaction. It serves as a record showing how all the money has changed hands line by line.

Who is responsible for preparing the settlement statement?

Whoever is facilitating the closing — whether it be a title company, escrow firm, or real estate attorney — will be responsible for preparing the settlement statement.

Is a settlement statement the same as a closing statement?

Yes, a settlement statement is the same as a closing statement, though “settlement” is the formal term most likely to be used by the real estate industry.

What is an ‘excess deposit’ at closing?

A particular line item that causes confusion on the seller’s settlement statement is the “Excess Deposit.” What is an excess deposit, and who will receive the funds listed on that line?

What information is needed to complete a closing document?

At the top of the document (before you get to the portion that looks like a spreadsheet) you’ll see a few boxes for inputting information that records basic details about the transaction, such as the names of the buyer and seller, the property address, and the closing date.

What is a seller's net sheet?

The seller’s net sheet is not an official document but an organizational worksheet that your agent will fill out to estimate how much you’ll pocket from your home sale after factoring in expenses like taxes , your real estate agent’s commission, your remaining mortgage, and escrow fees.

When are property taxes prorated?

For instance, say you get billed for property taxes in February to cover the previous year. If you’re closing on a sale on April 30, the yearly property tax is “prorated” or calculated for the first four months of the year, and it’s reflected in this section.

What is the ALTA Settlement Statement?

The ALTA Settlement Statement is a form that itemizes all of the credits and costs associated with a real estate transaction. There are four different versions of this form, including:

What Information Does the ALTA Settlement Statement Contain?

The charges listed in the ALTA Settlement Statement are broken down into ten different categories, including:

What is excess deposit?

Excess Deposit—any money in escrow over the amount the buyer and seller agreed to pay

Why do buyers and sellers get different versions of closing disclosure forms?

This is partly because the Closing Disclosure contains personal information like your social security number you may not want others to know.

What is the financial section of a mortgage?

The financial section includes important information about the sale of the property including the final purchase price, the amount of earnest money the buyer put down, and the loan amount issued to the borrower. If the seller agreed to pay for repairs or a portion of the buyer’s closing costs, that’s also reflected in this section of the form. You may see a few other charges you’re not familiar with, including:

What is the middle column in a closing?

The middle column shows all the closing costs involved in the transaction. It’s divided up into sections so buyers and sellers can see the types of fees they’ll need to pay. There’s also a column on either side of the middle section—one for the buyer and one for the seller.

How much commission does a seller have to pay for a home?

This section shows how much real estate commission the seller will need to pay. Real estate commission usually costs 5% to 6% of the sale price of the home and is split between the buyer’s and seller’s agent.

Where Can I Download a Sample ALTA Settlement Statement?

You can download a sample ALTA statement by clicking the text link below.

What is an ALTA Statement?

The ALTA settlement statement is an itemized list of all of the fees or charges that the buyer and seller will pay during the settlement portion of a real estate transaction. Everything from the sale price, loan amounts, school taxes and other pertinent information is contained in this document.

What is closing disclosure?

The closing disclosure is provided to the buyer and pertains a list of fees and costs and how they work into the buyer’s total expense. It is important to note that only the lender can provide the Closing Disclosure to the buyer 3 days prior to closing? And only the buyer should be able to see it unless they allow the release of it by signing a release disclosure. You should also know that the lender is obligated under the TRID regulations, and the lender can be penalized for failing to disclose 3 days after they’re loan application is approved and again 3 days prior to closing.

What is a settlement statement?

Settlement Statements – This is the version supplied solely to the buyer and contains only information pertinent to the buyers side of the transaction.

What is a HUD-1?

A Hud-1 used to be the primary statement associated with real estate and is used to document all cash transactions and how they affect both parties. It is now outdated. The Closing Disclosure was introduced in 2015 as a document that instead contains this information strictly for the buyer.

Why is a standard form required for title insurance?

Having a standard form for nearly all title insurance policy transactions maintains that all exchanges of land are done smoothly and efficiently.

Is ALTA the same as net sale?

No, an ALTA settlement statement is not the same as the net sale sheet. A net sheet is a document that can be provided throughout the sale process to give the seller an estimate on what they can expect to make. The net sale sheet is not final, and multiple sheets may be provided as offers are made and transactions process. An ALTA settlement statement is provided during the closing of a transaction and contains solid numbers rather than estimates.

Why use ALTA settlement statement?

Another benefit of using the ALTA Settlement Statements is the ability to disclose the actual premiums of title insurance charged to the homebuyer or seller during the closing transaction. In the majority of states, the cost of a homebuyer’s title insurance premiums will be inaccurate on the Closing Disclosure form due to a mandatory calculation method imposed by the Bureau in situations where the lender’s and owner’s title insurance policies are simultaneously issued. Many state regulators require settlement agents to disclose the actual costs for each fee the homebuyer is responsible for paying. The ALTA Settlement Statements help settlement agents disclose the accurate costs to homebuyers.

How to contact ALTA?

Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].

Does Wells Fargo use ALTA?

The ALTA Settlement Statements help settlement agents disclose the accurate costs to homebuyers. Wells Fargo and Bank of America will allow use of the ALTA Settlement Statement.

How many versions of ALTA Settlement Statement are there?

There are four versions of the ALTA Settlement Statement available:

How to contact ALTA?

Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].

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