A title company plays several important roles in a real estate transaction. Generally, title companies act as a combined agent of the insurance company, the buyer or borrower, and the mortgage lenders. It’s the title company’s job to review the title and issue insurance policies, facilitate the closing, and file vital paperwork. For these reasons,  [Read more…]
It’s unfortunate, but in today’s world, there are scammers and hackers just waiting for a way to steal your hard-earned money. This is true for real estate transactions as well. During a real estate transaction, large sums of money are usually required at the closing. Wire transfers typically deliver these sums. Scammers are taking advantage  [Read more…]
After two months of decline at the beginning of the summer, pending home sales rebounded in August. Every major region in the US grew month to month in contract activity. The PHSI (Pending Home Sales Index) went up to 8.1% in August. So, what does this mean? What’s the cause of the home sales  [Read more…]
A person can own real estate for their primary residence or an investment rental property. For either type of use, a title will legally identify their ownership of the property. There are different kinds of real estate titles, and it’s essential to understand the details of each so you can properly assist and advise your  [Read more…]
As a real estate agent or a mortgage broker, you’ve probably received many questions from clients regarding the transfer of a deed. Some homeowners may want to transfer a property to a family member or business associate. Others may wish to donate a property to charity. All the options involve the transfer of a deed.  [Read more…]
Recently, Fannie Mae launched a brand-new feature in its automated mortgage underwriting system. The goal was to incorporate their customers’ rent payments in the mortgage credit review process. Let’s explore this new underwriting technology and what it means for mortgage loans in the future. Single-Family Lenders Beginning in September of this year, Fannie Mae’s  [Read more…]
The title process is arguably the most overlooked part of a real estate transaction. Read on to learn more about the title process and how each step allows title companies to ensure that the transaction can be completed. What is a title? A title is a piece of documentation that says who legally owns  [Read more…]
For anyone involved in a real estate transaction, it’s essential to understand the difference between a deed and a title. Both documents are incredibly important to the buying and selling process, but for very different reasons. Read on to learn more. What is a deed? Both deeds and titles are legal documents. However, there  [Read more…]
Buying a home or property involves a lot of players. One of the most important and often understated players in the process is the title company. The primary role of a title company in a real estate transaction is to verify that the title of the property is legitimately given to the buyer. In other  [Read more…]