Tag: real estate closing
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Why Home Purchases Fail to Close (and How to Avert the Snafu)
On closing day, the buyer goes to their agent’s or real estate lawyer’s office, or the office of the settlement agent. The closing agent will give the buyer the papers to sign, one at a time. If you’re a buyer, you’ll be relieved and happy about the ritual. When it’s done, the deed is transferred…
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Ready to Buy? A Title Search Belongs on Your Checklist
A title search is one of the key steps in protecting your ownership interest when you buy a home. It reviews the property’s recorded history to uncover issues that could affect the deed, the seller’s right to transfer the property, or your ability to sell the home later. In a typical purchase, the title search…
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Which Is Better: Warranty of Title, or Title Insurance?
Great question! First, a warranty of title is stated in a warranty deed. And most any buyer in a regular home sale gets a warranty deed. So your question could also be posed as: “I’m getting a warranty deed. Do I still need an owner’s title insurance policy?” Let’s break this down.
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Can I Sell My Home With Unpaid Property Taxes or Tax Liens?
Any deed holder who’s struggling with the cost of living would understand: meeting property tax deadlines can be stressful. Sometimes, tax deadlines bring impossible burdens to a household. Those who need to sell their homes may wonder what can be done about the back taxes. The city or county government may have recorded a property…
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Getting Title Insurance at Closing: A Waste of Money? (Q&A for Home Buyers)
Your deed is a valuable document. It puts the title to a home in your hands. And, like most possessions, the title to your real estate can be insured. Does Every Home Have Title Insurance? No. But if you finance a home with a mortgage, the home becomes collateral for a lender. So, you must…
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Your Home’s Measurements Differ From the Description. Now What?
Maybe your property is smaller than the way it’s presented in the legal description. Maybe it’s bigger. Maybe you don’t own the home yet, but your agent has noted that the lot size, as described, is off by a few yards, or a certain percentage of an acre. The legal description of the property…
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Between Signing My Purchase Agreement and Closing: What’s Going On?
What goes on between the day you find your seller and the day the seller hands you the keys? If you’re new to home buying, you’ll be curious about each step. And if you haven’t closed on a home in a long time, you might want a refresher. Once you sign the agreement, a…
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Congrats on Closing! Now, How Will You Get Your Deed?
Closing is the last step before you have the keys to your new home in hand, and your deed is on its way. The all-important deed is a legal instrument (document) that shows the transfer of property ownership from the seller, over to you, the buyer. This document confirms your ownership status for the property…
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Can Working with a Real Estate Attorney Instead of an Agent Save You Money?
A lawyer can guide you through a real estate transaction. A lawyer can prepare (or check) your paperwork, represent you, and advocate for you. A lawyer runs the title searches, ensuring that the seller has a good title to transfer. Real estate attorneys also handle settlements. And yes, using a lawyer rather than a…
