Grantee Vs Grantor Real Estate: Understanding the Difference, Role, and Responsibilities

Posted by Excelsior Realty Team on July 15, 2024
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The grantor and the grantee are two crucial real estate positions and they play significant roles in purchasing, selling, or transferring real estate. Today, we’ll examine each one of their responsibilities. 

The person who donates or sells the property is the grantor, and the person who purchases it is the grantee. Understanding what they do is crucial because it influences the transfer of property. These roles and implications for law are essential to grasp whether you buy or sell a home. In this blog, we’ll explain what grantee vs grantor real estate is. 

What Is a Grantee in Real Estate?

A "grantee" is an individual or group that receives ownership, rights, or interests in a legal agreement or piece of property. The buyer of the home or the owner of a lien (a claim) on the property is the grantee in real estate. Usually, the person who will eventually own or receive the asset or property is the grantee. It is the responsibility of the company to recognize this ownership or interest and abide by any guidelines or terms specified in the contract.

What Is a Grantor in Real Estate?

A grantor is a person who transmits or provides something to another person. A grantor in real estate is an individual or group that wishes to transfer ownership of a piece of land to another individual. An individual, a business, or another type of legal body may be the grantor. They are crucial to real estate transactions. The grantor manages the process of giving the grantee ownership or an interest in the property. They also make sure the transfer is legal and authorized.

Grantee Vs Grantor Real Estate - Understanding the Difference, Role, and Responsibilities

 

Grantee Vs Grantor Real Estate Examples

There are many cases in which a grantor and grantee get involved in legal battles. A grantor-grantee relationship is formed during a legal transaction or document exchange. This is particularly valid when contracts are signed to close a deal. Here are a few examples:

Trust

When someone establishes a trust, they must choose a reliable individual (a trustee) to manage their assets and finances. The trustees are responsible for managing and transferring these assets per the directions specified in the trust. The trustor is the individual who establishes the trust. In addition, the trustor needs to choose a standby or a live trustee who will manage the trust if the first trustee becomes incompetent.

Lease

You become the lessor when renting out a piece of real estate, home, or an item. The lessee is the one who hires it from you. They attest to the terms by signing a contract, indicating your mutual agreement. To prevent any issues later, you should address any additional requirements that either of you may have before signing the lease.

A lessee rents out real estate or a home for a set price. The lessor consents to let someone use their property in exchange for specific payment guidelines. For instance, the landlord is the lessor, and the tenant is the lessee in a landlord-tenant arrangement.

Mortgage

In the real estate industry, mortgage lenders and holders are significant figures. Many real estate agents collaborate with various lenders to provide purchasers with mortgage options. By doing this, they can market their properties better and draw in more potential mortgage applicants.

The lender assists the buyer in covering the cost of the home or property when they approve a mortgage. Until the buyer repays the loan with interest, the lender takes ownership of the property used as collateral. Once they obtain complete ownership by purchasing a property title, the lender, or the individual who made the loan, can modify or alter the property.

Debt

Lenders and borrowers have a unique interaction when there is a loan involved. The grantor is the person who refers to the lender providing the funds, and the grantee is the borrower receiving the funds. The lender can add extra fees or interest to the initial loan amount when the borrower repays the loan.

Real Estate Deeds For Grantees and Grantors

The relationships that grantors and grantees have are unique because of their collaborative efforts. They express what they agree on and expect to utilize a variety of document types. Let's examine a few of these significant documents.
General Warranty Deed
A warranty deed is a type of special paper transferred to the buyer of a home or piece of land. It offers the customer more security.

A seller guarantees no unresolved issues about the property's ownership, even if it was owned by someone else when they sign this document. The vendor is responsible for covering any further legal costs.

Grant Deed

A grant deed enables the transfer of property from one person to another. It is sometimes referred to as a limited or special warranty deed. It provides some protection, though not as much as a general warranty type of deed, for both the buyer and the seller. A grant document contains two promises:

1. The property is the seller's to sell and hasn't been sold to anyone else.
2. Since the seller has owned the home, there have been no ownership issues, such as debts or disputes, against the property. The buyer should be protected from issues that occurred before the seller's ownership.

Thus, a grant deed shields the buyer from future complications and relieves the seller of liability for ownership issues.

Special Warranty Deed

This sort of deed protects the individual receiving the property more than others. Using a specific warranty deed, the seller assures the buyer that there were no legal issues with the residence during their ownership. This indicates that they have paid their mortgage, are free to sell it, and no one else has attempted to purchase the home.

However, this guarantee was only valid while the vendor owned the property. Any problems that existed before they acquired it are not their responsibility.

Quitclaim Deed

A quitclaim deed, like a warranty deed, transfers ownership of property from one person to another. A quitclaim deed, however, does not ensure that the grantor—the person granting the property—is the valid owner, in contrast to a warranty deed. If there are problems with the property's ownership, the new owner (the grantee) might not be covered.

Quitclaim documents are typically utilized in particular circumstances. Families may use them to divide up property, or individuals may use one to place property into a trust.

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

Homeowners can avoid foreclosure by using a deed instead of foreclosure. In basic terms, they decide without waiting for the bank to take over their home and instead hand it back to them. They no longer have to worry about their mortgage and are able to prevent foreclosure from appearing on their credit report. The homeowner and the bank also benefit from it since they avoid the headaches and expenses associated with a lengthy foreclosure process.

Interspousal Transfer Deed

When separating and needing to move a house from one spouse to the other, married couples frequently utilize a legal document known as an "interspousal transfer deed." This paperwork comes in handy when one spouse will be the single owner of the home following the divorce or when both couples own it jointly.

Special Purpose Deed

When the grantor, the property owner, is unable to sign the deed personally, a special purpose deed is utilized. A third party, such as the estate executor or a power of attorney, signs it on their behalf. The grantor is released from any liability if someone files a claim against the property under this deed.

FAQs

Does the Grantee Own the Property?

Yes. We refer to the recipient of property gifted by one person as the grantee. After completing all the necessary documentation and having the deed signed and recorded, the grantee takes title to the property.

Is the Grantee the Buyer or Seller?

The grantee in a real estate deal is typically the buyer. The grantor, who is frequently the seller or the person transferring the property, is the one who grants them the ownership rights.

What Is the Difference Between a Title and a Deed?

A "deed" is a formal document that formally transfers property ownership from one person to another. A "title" is similar to the official permission slip that identifies who owns a property.

Can the Grantor and Grantee be the Same Person?

Yes, of course. In some circumstances, one individual may act as both the donor and the recipient. For example, if someone wishes to transfer their assets to a trust they created, they can act as both the grantor and the grantee.

Final Words from Us

In every real estate transaction, the grantor—the giver—and the grantee—the recipient of property rights—play very important parts. Our seasoned experts at Excelsior Real Estate guarantee clients can easily handle these duties. We provide our clients with valuable insights that build confidence and deliver remarkable results since we thoroughly understand local inventory and market dynamics. Our commitment to results and trust builds long-lasting client relationships, from sales negotiations to creating strategic marketing campaigns. Excelsior Real Estate is your dependable partner in the complex dance of real estate, providing success.