When real estate professionals talk about a “title,” they discuss who has legal ownership of a property or the right to use a property. As with a title for a car, this is the actual document listing the owner or ownership arrangement. The conversation usually revolves...
Month: August 2020
How does hurricane season affect residential real estate?
Hurricane season is in full swing, and it will not be over until November. Hurricanes can have a major impact on every facet of the economy, including the real estate. If you are considering purchasing a home or a condo, you may wonder how hurricane season—or a...
What is mortgage insurance?
Some home buyers got an unpleasant surprise if they put down less than 20%. It comes when the lender informs the buyer that they need to buy mortgage insurance. Also known as private mortgage insurance (PMI), it adds expense to those likely stretched a little thin as...
The pros and cons of condominium living
Condominiums are not just for Baby Boomers. While condos do offer ease of living because typically someone else does the heavy lifting (yard, sidewalk and exterior maintenance) these benefits are also appealing to people who travel and those with young families....
Sellers required to disclose specific issues to home buyers
There are certain laws set in place to protect real estate buyers. In general, the seller must disclose material defects and other potential problems that could impact the actual value of a home and surrounding property before the sale is final. Sellers are not...
Issues to consider in a construction contract
A contract outlining the terms of a transaction is not the only real estate agreement signed. Construction contracts are another commonly used agreement. These address many different concerns in specific terms. Overall, the construction contract can help both parties...
Mortgage rates at historic lows
Mortgages are often the biggest financial burden on any budget. In light of the current economic environment, the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates to spur the economy. A benefit of this cut is that mortgage lenders followed suit and similarly slashed their...
Key differences for owners and managers using Airbnb or VRBO
It is becoming increasingly common for people to rent out their home or vacation property. In the past, this meant that owners either handled the marketing themselves or used a brick-and-mortar rental company. Now online platforms Airbnb and VRBO have become the...
What property owners should know about renting out their home during vacation season
Many property owners choose to rent their extra rooms, garage units or entire homes for short periods of time to vacationers. While this can be a lucrative situation and offset your normal housing expenses, it can also be a gamble. There are many legal concerns to...
What is a title defect?
Buying a residential property is a considerable investment, and most homeowners want to rest easy in their new home knowing that their ownership is secure. For many people navigating the real estate market, title defects are mysterious obstacles to that ownership....





