The world is full of scam artists, as title agents know all too well. As the role of the title agent as guardian of the real estate transaction continues to evolve, ferreting out fraudulent actors puts added responsibility on the shoulders of title, escrow and closing agents. To accomplish this commission, agents rely increasingly on […]
Historically, scalability in the title insurance industry meant two things: 1) you work more hours in the busy months and fewer hours in the slow months, and 2) you hire more people in years when the market is on fire, and you fire them when a real estate recession hits. Today, title agencies have far […]
Declaring a Mobile Home as Real Property If you own the land your mobile home is on and it’s permanently attached, you can apply to have it considered Real Property. This straightforward process brings several benefits, as we'll explain. One Simple Tax Bill: Your mobile home and land are taxed together as one item, not […]
New laws and innovative technologies have broadened a title agent’s ability to facilitate real estate transaction closings in a multitude of ways. While in person closings are still the preference of some real estate agents and homebuyers, hybrid closings, eClosings in person, and remote RON closings are growing in popularity and offer title agents an […]
Remember when short sales were going through the roof, and title companies had to set up new departments to manage the complexity of these transactions? As interest rates go up and down, employment opportunities rise and diminish, or factories close down and new businesses open, title agents have to keep their eye on the trends […]
Economic forecasters just a few months ago were predicting that mortgage rates would moderate to 5.8% by the end of 2024, raising hopes that we would see increasing home sales and refinance orders as the year progressed. But now both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are backpedaling on those predictions, releasing more sobering predictions in […]
AI is everywhere, and as integration grows, policies are needed to govern its use in the workplace. AI policies maximize its benefits, minimize risks and ensure responsible practices. Here are some points to think about. Ethical Considerations: With an indescribable amount of data, AI systems need to be monitored and regulated to prevent biases and […]
Cost containment is critical in a down real estate market, and as we look ahead to a muted market in 2024 and the uncertainties related to the Federal Reserve’s intentions with regard to interest rates, it is imperative that title agents take a hard look at their expenses. Evaluating costs in each department can help […]
We love to make our business plans for the upcoming year – crunching the numbers and considering the possibilities for growth and expansion. Your business plan may include a market analysis, a plan for expanding your offerings to a new vertical such as commercial transactions, marketing plans for reaching your target market, a comprehensive sales […]
