DEAR BENNY: Can a mortgage lender make you pay a fee to close the escrow account? Is it legal for the lender to increase your mortgage after deducing money for escrow? – Eleanor DEAR ELEANOR: I am always happy to ...

Tagged with: escrow

Carefully read every page of every document you will have to sign at settlement (escrow), and if you do not understand something, ask. If the settlement person is not able or willing to explain, check with your attorney. In fact, if at all possible, consumers should be able to review all of the proposed documents at least one day before the final settlement takes place.

Tagged with: Benny Kass escrow Insurance settlement

You have repeatedly advised that any earnest money be deposited with escrow. In my unfortunate experience, this didn't protect (me) the seller against a default.

Tagged with: Benny Kass escrow

DEAR BENNY: Read your article suggesting to never give earnest money to the seller. While that may be a good recommendation for a buyer, it certainly is NOT the best advice for a seller. The seller’s best position, serving his ...

Tagged with: escrow

DEAR BENNY: What are the obligations of an escrow agent? I signed a real estate sales contract and gave the seller a $10,000 earnest money deposit. He was supposed to escrow those funds until closing. However, I decided not to ...

Tagged with: escrow

DEAR BENNY: We moved to Jacksonville, Fla., in 2010, but still own a home in Pensacola that we are renting to some friends. We got a check in the mail for an alleged overpayment from escrow. I remember telling my wife they had the home insurance wrong on the HUD-1 form, so we figured it was discovered and they reimbursed us. So we used the money to pay bills.

Tagged with: Benny Kass escrow