I just wanted to add a little tip for those that don't want to tie up money with the title company. I had a previous experience where it took the seller over 2 months to return his closing docs. No good reason given. I would've thought that the buyer is usually the one who holds it up because he/she is the one having to come up with money, but that was not the case with our first contract. We had a large cashier's check sent to the title company for the purchase, and the money just sat there...for 2 months. I was beyond frustrated when this happened. We are in the process of buying an add-on to that contract. We got the closing docs earlier this week, and I sent our signed closing documents to the title company, but I let her know that I would not send the money until the sellers' signed docs came in. She said that happens quite a bit, and she would let me know. Yet again, this is a seller who isn't rushing to turn in his docs. Granted, they have to get theirs notarized, and I do not, so it is easier as the buyer. Regardless, there is a lot less anxiety as the buyer when you are still holding onto your money. This will hold up the process a few days once all the docs are sent in for me to send the money, but what's a few days when you're talking these large amounts of money? I will always hold onto the money from here on out until the sellers have returned their documents. I wanted to share this in case anyone else would like to do the same because it can be pretty darn frustrating when you have sent a large amount of money which is just sitting at a title company.
We all think the sellers want to close ASAP and get their money, but as some of you are seeing, and I saw as well with my first purchase last year, that isn't always the case. 
