Deeds.com

The rights and restrictions that come with a real estate purchase can be complicated. The “subject to” phrase means the full story may not be visible within the four corners of a deed.

Look for the phrase “subject to” in a deed. The deed might say: “Subject to all rights of way, easements and other encumbrances of record…” The deed is a grant of the land, but not every contingency appears on its face. 

Most home buyers receive warranty deeds, which represent the real estate title as clear of creditors’ claims and other people’s ownership interests. Still, some rules and encumbrances can legitimately apply to the property. Yet they might be dealbreakers for the prospective buyer. Is there, for example, a utility company’s easement that could rule out a new deck, swimming pool, or accessory dwelling unit?

Homeowners’ associations have governing documents, containing rules about landscaping and so forth. And for a single home, the “subject to” clause is a catchall that spares the deed from reciting long, intricate property descriptions that were hallmarks of deeds in earlier times: the measurements and directions, setbacks, wells, driveways and sewer lines, and other parties’ long-recorded rights and responsibilities regarding shared resources. A general plan of development contains those restrictions.

COVID-19 has changed the real estate market. Understanding the recent changes can help buyers prepare for the transaction, and set reasonable home buying timelines. Here is an overview of changes in the buying process. We conclude with a 6-point checklist for the buyer coming into the market today.

It’s springtime — always a great season for people who show, sell, and buy homes. Enter 2020, and the harsh and often unpredictable impacts of COVID-19. In the year’s first quarter, business and government offices closed in droves, and millions of U.S. jobs were lost. Lenders have a heightened sense of caution now, as they anticipate changes in borrowers’ work situations, income, debt, and credit performance.

The depth of the trouble was undeniable by March 11, 2020. On that day the World Health Organization (WHO) categorized the virus outbreak as a pandemic. As the novel coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from one person to another, the world’s public health experts urged everyone to stay at least 6 feet apart and avoid gathering in groups. Needless to say, that put a damper on home tours and, in turn, listings. By March, the number of homes listed in the market had dropped substantially.

And this brings us to the people who need to buy or sell a home in the not-too-distant future. What will this new situation mean for the home shopping experience? Here, we dive into the present real estate trends and challenges, and the issues most likely to impact transactions from 2020 on.

Thinking of buying your first home? First-time buying is exciting. It’s filled with the dreamy pleasure of beholding perfect kitchens, bedrooms and baths, and the cliff-hanger phone calls about your loan approval. (“We’re nearly there! I just need one more document…”) You’ll peruse home inspection results, negotiate the home price so you can re-do that floor, and, ultimately, you’ll get to “yes” with the seller. By the time you finally sit down at the closing table, you’ll feel intense relief, and one of the biggest thrills of your life. Here are some tips to help make that day a resounding success.

Homeownership has its perks. Resolving to buy rather than to keep renting can be an excellent financial decision. Here, we take a look at five top benefits of going from renter to owner—and a few key things to consider before you make the move.