When it comes to real estate closings, it's up to you to make sure the transaction runs smoothly and doesn't get off track. There's a lot of ground to cover, and it helps if you know your way. This legal briefing has been designed to provide you with a real estate “GPS” so you can cover all the important waypoints, get your bearings when necessary, and make your way to a successful closing.

1. Preliminary Work
2. Preceding the Closing Date
3. Closing
4. Post Closing
5. Ethical Considerations

1. PRELIMINARY WORK
   9:00 - 10:15, Blaise J. Guzewicz
   1. Receipt of Contract or Request for Finance
   2. Opening the File
   3. Contacting the Parties
   4. What to Order and From Whom
   5. Documenting the File
   6. Use and Examples of Check Lists
2. PRECEDING THE CLOSING DATE
   10:30 - 11:45, Susan M. Swick
   1. The Reports Arrive
   2. What to Do
   3. What to Look For
   4. Reading a Title Report and Turning it Into a Commitment
   5. Reading Payoff Letters, Surveys and Other Data
   6. The Value of Your Computer
   7. Coordinating a Settlement Date With
      1. Buyer
      2. Seller
      3. Realtor
      4. Lender
   8. Insured Closing Letters
   9. Receipt of Closing Package From the Lender
   10. Preparing the Settlement Statement
   11. Other Documents Involved
   12. Complying With Requests in the Commitment
   13. Circulation of Documents for Approval Prior to the Closing
3. CLOSING
   12:45 - 2:00, Kenneth J. Yarsky II
   1. The Role of the Settlement Agent
   2. Resolving Issues at the Table
   3. Obtaining Identification
   4. Order of Document Signing
   5. Copies
   6. Handling of Funds From All Parties
   7. Making Sure Funds Receive Balance With the Settlement Statement
   8. Deposits and Disbursements
   9. Getting the Documents Ready to be Recorded
4. POST CLOSING
   2:15 - 3:30, Susan M. Swick
   1. Final Certificate From Attorney or Information From Recorder
   2. The Occasional Disbursement of Funds and Escrow Items
   3. Preparing Closing Package to Go Back to the Lender
   4. Policy Preparation
   5. Resolving Any Left Over Matters From the Closing
   6. Releases of Liens
5. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
   3:30 - 4:30, Blaise J. Guzewicz
   1. Applying the Rules of Professional Conduct
   2. Good Faith Required in Real Estate Transactions
   3. Lawyers and Title Insurance Companies
   4. Trust Accounts
   5. Representation of Multiple Clients - Conflicts of Interest
   6. Disclosure of Defects in Property

BLAISE J. GUZEWICZ is the vice president general counsel for Socrates Inc. in Pittsburgh, where he advises the corporation in all legal matters. Mr. Guzewicz has extensive experience in real estate closings and real estate litigation and has been practicing law for more than 20 years. He has previously lectured on subrogation issues and has been involved in teaching continuing education for paralegals. Mr. Guzewicz earned his B.S. and J.D. degrees from Duquesne University. He is a member of the National Association of Subrogation Professionals and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.

SUSAN M. SWICK is underwriting counsel with the Pittsburgh office of Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, focusing exclusively on real estate and title insurance law, as well as agency representation. Ms. Swick has 30 years of experience working with title matters in both private practice and as underwriting counsel with major title insurance companies. While in private practice, she practiced transactional, as well as real estate development law, representing lending institutions and commercial and residential developers. Ms. Swick is a frequent lecturer on title insurance and real estate topics and has been an adjunct professor at Butler University instructing real estate law. She is a member of the Allegheny and Westmoreland County bar associations, and also holds law licenses in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Maine. Ms. Swick also is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. She earned her B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.

KENNETH J. YARSKY II is an attorney in the Pittsburgh law firm of Sherrard, German & Kelly, P.C., where he practices in the areas of real estate, business and banking, estate planning, estate administration, creditors' rights and civil litigation. He has lectured on real estate law for the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Community College of Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Mr. Yarsky is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Allegheny County (past chairman, Real Property Section) and the American bar associations, and he serves on the Landlord-Tenant Rules Committee of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Dayton and his J.D. degree from Duquesne University School of Law.

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