Category Archives: Selling a Home

Buying a Home, Real Estate Trends, Selling a Home

New Homeowner DIY Tips

Buying a home for the first time  is a huge step. But learning to maintain and improve it can be both painful and rewarding. The do-it-yourself experts at The Family Handyman (www.familyhandyman.com) offer the following tips for maintaining your home that will save you money down the road.

Create a homeowner’s journal. Keep insurance papers, repair receipts and all other paperwork pertaining to the house inside a three-ring binder. Storing your home’s maintenance information in one handy place makes it easier to find when you need it — especially when you consider selling the house in the future. read more

Selling a Home

Show time – Selling Your Home

End-of-summer sales on patio furniture might be front and center, but it might be just the right time to invest in new indoor chairs, couches or tables. Take a seat and learn how to prepare with tips from Better Homes and Gardens.

Do your homework. First, measure everything. Write down room dimensions, accounting for the door and other details of the space. Also, have an idea of what you like. Get inspiration from home décor magazines and online research. But, remember, you will need to touch, sit and even lift furniture before deciding if you should bring it home. read more

Buying a Home, Selling a Home

A Buyer’s Guide to Understanding Title Insurance

What is a Title Insurance Policy?

The policy of title insurance you receive when you purchase a home is an important document, but may buyers don’t understand what kind of protections the policy provides. Simply put, a policy of title insurance protects a buyer or lender against errors, omissions, or defects in the title to the property. Unlike auto or homeowners insurance which protect you against future loss, title insurance protects you against claims or losses which have been created by past events which occurred prior to the time you own the property. read more

Buying a Home, Selling a Home

Closing Day – Title and Escrow

The escrow closing day is the conclusion of a process which, over days, weeks, or perhaps months, has required the cooperation and energy of many professionals and the Buyer and Seller.

Just prior to closing, the Escrow Officer audits the entire escrow file, provides instructions to the Title Company, and formally authorizes recordable documents to be sent to the County Clerk’s office for recording. This can only be done after the Buyer’s loan funding has been confirmed and the Escrow Officer has received the buyer’s final deposit in clear funds. read more