The closing process can be confusing and even overwhelming for buyers and sellers alike. Often a real estate transaction in a resort market such as Jackson Hole, Wyoming or the surrounding areas of Teton Valle, Idaho and Star Valley, Wyoming involves many people in a variety of places that may never see each other or even know each other’s names.

Think about what is involved. A seller owns a house in Wyoming or Idaho and lives in Pennsylvania. Their family has not used the house as much as they used to, so they find a real estate agent to sell their house. Another agent finds someone that want to buy it while on vacation from Oregon. They get financing from a company based in Ohio. A company in Texas provides the title insurance. A company from Illinois will insure the house. You get the idea.

The escrow company takes on the duty of gathering all the documents and money as required by the Contract to complete the transaction. As the documents and money comes to the escrow company, they make sure that they have everything that is required. When everything is in order, they file the new deed at the county courthouse and then pay the seller the money that owed. The money provided by the buyer and the lender is paid to the seller, the seller’s lender, the title insurance company, and various other people such as the inspector and the appraiser.

Find a real estate agent that is willing to monitor the process and look for problems that arise as the sale approaches closing. It is good to have an agent attend your closing with you, to help with any last minute questions. They won’t have all the answers, but chances are they will know who to contact to get help.