- Buyer closing fee, from
- $995
- To a written quote
- 1day
- From contract to keys
- 1coordinator
Buying, selling or refinancing a home. One flat fee, one coordinator, one calm closing table.
South Carolina is an attorney closing state, so a licensed South Carolina attorney has to supervise your purchase or refinance. That attorney can be one you choose. We handle the title exam, the lender's paperwork, the closing itself, and the recording and payouts after.
You get a written flat fee within one business day and a named coordinator who answers. Three business days before closing, we walk you through your Closing Disclosure line by line, so nothing at the table is new.
Tidemark's attorneys are licensed in South Carolina only. This site explains how things usually work in South Carolina. Real estate rules differ from state to state.
A financed purchase, start to finish
Typical timing for a purchase with a loan. Cash purchases are often faster; some loans take longer.
Read the full timeline-
Day 0
Contract signed
Your agent sends us the signed contract. We open the file, confirm who we represent in writing and send you a flat-fee quote if you don't have one.
-
Days 1 to 7
Title search ordered
We search the county records for owners, mortgages, liens, judgments and easements. Your coordinator emails you a short summary.
-
Days 7 to 14
Title commitment and survey
We issue the title insurance commitment and review the survey, if you ordered one. Anything that needs fixing goes on a list with a date.
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Days 14 to 25
Lender clears to close
Your lender finishes underwriting. We trade documents with them and confirm the payoff for the seller's loan.
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3 business days before
Closing Disclosure review
For most mortgage loans you get your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. We go through it with you line by line.
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Closing day
Signing at the table
About an hour. Bring a photo ID and the certified or wired funds the statement shows. Never wire money based on an email alone: call us first.
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After closing
Recording and payouts
We record the deed and mortgage with the county, pay off the old loan, disburse funds and send your final owner's policy when it issues.
What we handle
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Title examination
We search the county records for the chain of ownership, open mortgages, liens and judgments, and tell you in plain words what we found.
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Title insurance
We issue the lender's policy and offer an owner's policy, which is optional and the one that protects you. We explain the difference before you decide.
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Lender coordination
We trade documents with your lender, confirm the clear-to-close and check the numbers on the Closing Disclosure against your contract.
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The closing
At our office, at a time that works, or by mail-away signing if you are out of town. Bring a photo ID and nothing else unless we ask.
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Recording and payouts
We record the deed and mortgage with the county, pay off the seller's loan and disburse funds from our trust account.
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Seller side
For sellers we prepare the deed, order payoffs, handle the deed recording fee and wire your proceeds once the deed records.
Call us when
The earlier we see the paperwork, the cheaper and calmer it tends to be.
Book a consultation- Your offer was just accepted and the contract names a closing date
- Your lender or agent asked who your closing attorney is
- You are selling and need a deed prepared or a payoff ordered
- You are refinancing and want a flat fee before you lock
- You will be out of town and need a mail-away closing
Fees
Our fee is one line on your settlement statement. Title insurance, recording fees, lender charges and prepaid taxes are separate, and we show example ranges for them on the closing costs page.
Example figures for this demo
Purchase with a loan (buyer)
Title exam, lender documents, closing, recording
$995 to $1,250 Flat fee
Cash purchase (buyer)
Title exam, closing, deed recording
$850 to $1,050 Flat fee
Sale (seller)
Deed preparation, payoffs, closing, proceeds wire
$450 to $650 Flat fee
Refinance
Title update, lender documents, closing, payoff
$650 to $850 Flat fee
Mail-away signing
Courier and remote notary coordination
$75 to $150 Flat fee
Questions about residential closings
Can I choose my own closing attorney?
Yes. In South Carolina the buyer can choose the closing attorney. Your agent or lender may suggest one, and you can still pick us. Tell your lender our name early so documents come to the right office.
Who do you represent at the closing?
Usually the buyer, and we also handle the lender's loan documents. We tell you in writing who we represent before you sign anything. If you are the seller and want your own lawyer, we can be that lawyer instead.
How long does a closing take?
Most purchase closings at our table take about an hour. Most of the work happens in the two to four weeks before, which is why we start the title exam the day we get your contract.
This page is general information about South Carolina real estate, not legal advice for your situation. Laws change, rules differ by state and facts matter. Reading it does not make Tidemark your lawyer.
Other practice areas
Have an accepted offer? Get your flat fee today.
Tell us the property, the deadline and who is involved. We reply within one business day with a written flat fee or a time to talk.