Open Forum

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.

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Donna Brady Miller
Inter-County Abstract
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Hello Donna,

I'm in FL and was having the same issue. When I received the cancellation, I sent an invoice to the party that is keeping the deposit. My UW can cancel the title search without issue, at no cost, but the Lien Search, HOA estoppel, Survey we have to pay for. I always explain to them that this are 3rd parties' services. Not money for us! The solution, at the beginning of the transaction make the buyer and seller sign an authorization stating they will pay costs. 

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.

Hello Donna,

I'm in FL and was having the same issue. When I received the cancellation, I sent an invoice to the party that is keeping the deposit. My UW can cancel the title search without issue, at no cost, but the Lien Search, HOA estoppel, Survey we have to pay for. I always explain to them that this are 3rd parties' services. Not money for us! The solution, at the beginning of the transaction make the buyer and seller sign an authorization stating they will pay costs. 

I am a non-attorney title agent in Pennsylvania who is tired of not getting paid when a transaction falls through.

When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago it was common practice to wait until a mortgage commitment was issued before doing the title search. Jump to the last 10 years or so and it is now common for the lender to require the title commitment, CPL, etc., immediately, sometimes prior to the appraisal being done! I've lost count of the number of searches done and commitments issued only to have the transaction fall through for one reason or another.

The Pennsylvania Rate Manual stipulates that "if an application is cancelled after the Commitment is issued under Company or Agent Procedure, a minimum charge of $100.00 is to be made for such cancellation".  Unsurprisingly, no one is willing to pay a cancellation fee after the dream of their new home falls apart.

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this issue, and I'd love to hear how others deal with it.