Deeds.com

Some sellers offer the option of a seller-financed deal to home shoppers. Seller financing can be very attractive when a hopeful buyer can’t obtain a loan approval. After 2020, we could see an uptick in such situations, as a good number of sellers and buyers try to restore their pandemic-battered finances and seek alternative ways to borrow. Indeed, seller financing has long helped make homebuying a more flexible prospect for self-employed people and others who might not fit the profile preferred by loan underwriters. Bonus: no private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Many international buyers — often from Canada, China, Mexico, India or Great Britain — buy U.S. real property to offset the risk of their country’s currency devaluation, or simply to diversify their assets. If you’re a buyer from outside the United States, or a seller making an international sale, advance knowledge can help you navigate a few quirks in the process.

For generations, real estate has been at the core of wealth for people, families, and organizations. Today, a home is the most valuable asset owned by most people in the U.S. middle class. It’s the largest investment and a central retirement asset for most of the population.

Of course, a home should be a safe, comfortable space to enjoy life. At the same time, buying a home in a popular area can help the buyer attain a more comfortable financial life. Here, we explain how. 

A deed, of course, is a legal document representing property ownership. But you might be wondering if an owner can transfer a deed to another person without a real estate lawyer. The answer is yes. Parties to a transaction are always free to prepare their own deeds. If you do so, be sure your deed measures up to your state’s legal regulations, to help avert any legal challenge to the deed later.

Some deeds require more expertise than others. A quitclaim deed, for example, is far simpler than a warranty deed. Let’s take a closer look.

Walkable neighborhoods, green buildings, energy efficiency, low-carbon living… they’re all going mainstream now. Sustainable real estate is no longer a mere preference or buzzword. It has evolved into a basic need, addressing climate-related sea level rise and flooding in cities such as Washington D.C. We know the tide is turning when investors screen properties for sustainability.

What does this mean for individual homeowners? In increasing numbers, we’re integrating our environmental concerns into our lives at home. Here, we explore what today’s buyers and owners might want to know.