Title and Escrow

[Nicole Starnes]

It's the little details that count...so, I'm wondering about the process of putting earnest money (if I need one) down on a property.

1. Do I put earnest money down before or after the contract is signed?
2. Do title companies take care of escrow?
3. What do I have to provide with the earnest money? (any documentation?)
4. Escrow fees?
5. Once I assign the contract to my end buyer, what happens to my earnest money deposit? Do I just go get it and let them know that I didn't close on the property?

I'm such a newb, lol.