How to avoid settlement delays due to a mechanic's lien

Written by Matt Bales | 12 March 2010

A mechanic's lien is a common but easily preventable occurrence for many Florida property owners. This type of lien is filed against a property when a contractor fails to pay one of their suppliers, subcontractors or laborers for property improvements.

The mechanics lien is a cloud on the property’s title and can prevent or delay the sale or refinancing of the property until the mechanic’s lien is paid.  

Often a mechanic’s lien is discovered long after it's been filed in the public records, but by taking a few proactive measures in accordance with Florida’s Construction Lien Law, property owners can ensure their properties are protected from the burdens imposed by such mechanic’s liens.
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How to qualify fo DC Homestead Deduction

Written by Todd Ewing | 12 March 2010

Real estate agents and homebuyers often ask us about DC Homestead Deduction. The potential savings for a homebuyer over the course of a year can be hundreds of dollars. This article will help you determine if you qualify for the program. A settlement company like Federal Title can help you complete the application so you can take advantage of savings as soon as possible.
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Real estate news update

Written by Federal Title | 12 March 2010

A daily dose of headlines for real estate agents, mortgage lenders and consumers.
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Debunking common excuses for waiving title insurance

Written by Joe Gentile | 11 March 2010

With the growing concerns over foreclosures, unpaid taxes, bankruptcies and clouds on title, the need for title insurance is at an all time high. And yet every year a handful of purchasers waive their opportunity to purchase an Owner’s Title Insurance Policy. While the number that waives title insurance is small – probably less than 1% of all of our purchase transactions – the excuses for waiving are often similar.

Our website provides an explanation of title insurance, but here are a few of the most common excuses used for waiving coverage, followed by the reasons why those excuses are unsound.

Excuse:  “The sellers have lived there for 25 years.  If there was a problem, it would have come up before.”
Debunked:  Even though the seller has owned a property for 25 years, it does not mean that a defect does not exist – the defect could have been there all along. And new defects could have arisen during the prior ownership.  

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Guest bloggers wanted

Written by Nikki Smith | 11 March 2010

How would you like a chance to be front and center before thousands of curious consumers with a genuine interest to purchase or refinance a home in the near future?

Better yet, what if you could broadcast your real estate industry expert knowledge and exponentially increase your exposure to these potential clients without spending a dime?

That's what Federal Title & Escrow Company is offering to mortgage lenders, real estate agents and other industry experts in the DC Metro Area – the opportunity to submit an article for a special guest column featured weekly on the company blog.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Real estate news update

Written by Federal Title | 11 March 2010

A daily dose of headlines for real estate agents, mortgage lenders and consumers.
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Order settlement services from your smart phone

Written by Nikki Smith | 10 March 2010

An increasing number of real estate firms are providing homebuyers with free smart phone applications, commonly referred to as "apps," to make house hunting easier than ever.

While websites have offered similar technology for years now, mobile apps literally put this power in the palm of the homebuyer's hand, providing a snapshot of the local real estate market in real-time. Apps use smart phones' global-positioning technology to provide all kinds of information, from a homes features and amenities to property values to information about local schools and crime statistics to photos of the surrounding neighborhood.

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Short sales, foreclosures and taxes ... oh my!

Written by Amy Bales | 10 March 2010

In the light of the current residential real estate market, short sales and foreclosures in Florida are becoming more commonplace. As with standard real estate transactions, taxes play a large part in the closing process when it comes to short sales and foreclosures.

In Florida the closing agent is responsible for calculating the documentary stamp tax, intangible tax and other real estate taxes depending on the transaction. 
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Real estate news update

Written by Federal Title | 10 March 2010

A daily dose of headlines for real estate agents, mortgage lenders and consumers.
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Strategic default on homes on the rise

Written by Nikki Smith | 09 March 2010

At a time when one in four homeowners is underwater, and 2 million more Americans have gone through foreclosure, the thought of defaulting on a loan is becoming less taboo. In fact, many homeowners are taking a cue from high-profile investors, who have walked away from multi-billion dollar real estate investment projects, and choosing to cut their losses, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Foreclosure and delinquency rates remain high, a Treasury official said in a prepared statement Monday. And though there are signs of recovery in the housing market, the federal government still has a lot of work ahead of them, he said.

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How to qualify for the DC Tax Abatement program

Written by Catherine Schmitt | 09 March 2010

The DC Tax Abatement program is a program designed by the District of Columbia to help lower income homeowners purchase property. Here are some oft asked questions from agents and potential homebuyers.
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