Public Interest
Common Misconceptions About Notaries
By Melissa Haley—There are some common misconceptions about notarizations. Some of the more prevalent are detailed below. Many people think notaries can review documents, discuss their contents and give advice. This is not the case. Most states even require their notaries to post a disclaimer on all advertising such as, “I am not an attorney…
Read MoreWhat Are Contingencies and Why Are They So Important?
By Sandy Gadow—A contingency is a condition in a Purchase Agreement which states that the agreement is reliant upon certain events taking place, such as approval of a building inspection, delivery of marketable title, obtaining acceptable financing or mortgage commitments, even meeting building code compliance.
Read More10 Often Overlooked Real Estate Tax Deductions
By Fidelity National Title Insurance Company—1. Home acquisition mortgage loan fees. If you have bought a primary or secondary home in the past year, you probably obtained a mortgage to finance the purchase. That mortgage is called an “acquisition mortgage” because it enabled purchase of the residence.
Read More7 Ways to Accumulate a Down Payment
By Fidelity National Title Insurance Company—One of the biggest problems facing potential buyers today is coming up with enough money for the down payment and closing costs. The amount of money you have available can greatly limit or increase your purchasing power.
Read MoreSeller’s Home Closing Checklist
By Sandy Gadow—As the seller who’s sold your home and are getting ready to close on the sale, there are many things to consider. Here’s a comprehensive list of important items to review and check off.
Read MoreBuyer’s Home Closing Checklist
By Sandy Gadow—As the buyer who’s bought a home and are getting ready to close on the sale, there are many things to consider. Here’s a comprehensive list of important items to review and check off.
Read MoreImportant Escrow / Settlement Terms
By Sandy Gadow—Whether buying or selling a home, you may encounter some terms you are not familiar with when speaking with your real estate agent, loan officer or signing agent. Here’s a list of the basic terms you should understand.
Read MoreExceptions To Coverage In Your Title Insurance Policy
By Sandy Gadow—Your title insurance policy will list certain exceptions that will be excluded from coverage. This is a standard practice, but you should be aware of which items are exempted and therefore not covered. Owner’s policies usually contain a list of some of the following standard exceptions.
Read MoreWhat Is A Preliminary Title Report?
By Fidelity National Title Insurance Company—A preliminary report is designed to facilitate the issuance of a particular type of policy. The preliminary report identifies the title to the estate or interest in the described land.
Read MoreHow Real Estate Agents Help Sellers Make More Money
By Alamo Title Insurance—PRICING: A homeowner is usually not the best judge of the value of his or her home. There are too many emotional ties to the home for the owner to be unbiased. Also the owner knows the amount he needs or wants from the sale and may not be objective.
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