Go Dawgs!
Ticor has gone purple in support of our UW Huskies! Win or lose in the Bowl Championship Series, it has been a great season for the local boys!
Make sure all of your clients are protected
You’re a real estate agent, so you know that buying a home can be overwhelming for many of your clients. Homebuyers can easily feel confused and frustrated by the mounds of paperwork they have to sign. Plus, all the fees associated with closing can sometimes be a surprise even to an experienced buyer.
Owner’s title insurance is one of those items often misunderstood by homebuyers at closing, yet its value is tremendous. As an important advisor to your clients, you are in the position to help them understand the value of owner’s title insurance and the dangers that can be incurred without it.
What is title insurance?
Owner’s title insurance is a policy that protects homebuyers’ property rights. For the same reasons that the bank requires a lender’s insurance policy, a homebuyer obtains owner’s title insurance to protect their legal claims to the property.
Related Articles
What is a title commitment
What to look for in a title insurance company
The Benefits of an owner’s title insurance policy
How title insurance protects your clients
Say, for example, your client recently purchased a new home from a builder, but the builder failed to pay the roofer. Wanting to be paid, the roofer filed a lien against the property. Without owner’s title insurance, your client would be responsible for paying this existing debt—meaning they’d be paying the roofer out of pocket instead of purchasing something nice for their new home, like new living room furniture. This is just one example of how owner’s title insurance protects homebuyers’ from various significant risks. With owner’s title insurance, your client would be protected from certain legal or financial responsibilities.
Enduring value
The good news is that owner’s title insurance protects homebuyers financially, as long as they or their heirs* own the home. For a low, one-time fee (average of 0.5% of purchase price), homebuyers can rest assured, knowing they are protected from inheriting existing debts or claims to their property.
State regulations and CFPB
Each state government regulates its own title insurance costs. In addition, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulates closing and settlement practices which can impact title insurance. Keep in mind that title insurance industry practices vary due to differences in state laws and local real estate customs. The party that pays for the owner’s title insurance policy varies from state to state, and sometimes even within a state. For more information about title insurance, or to find a company approved to issue an owner’s policy, please direct your homebuyer clients to www.homeclosing101.org.
Free resources for Realtors®
Together, real estate agents, land title insurance professionals and other stakeholders involved in real estate transactions can protect homebuyers and provide them with the peace of mind they deserve during the home closing process.
For more information about title insurance, and to get free resources for real estate agents, visit www.alta.org/realtor.
*This article offers a brief description of insurance coverages, products and services and is meant for informational purposes only. Actual coverages may vary by state, company or locality. You may not be eligible for all of the insurance products, coverages or services described in this advertising. For exact terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations, please contact a Ticor Title representative.
We came, we ran, we brought some warmth
To celebrate the season, have some fun, and ultimately provide support for those in need, members of the Ticor Title family took to the streets of Redmond for the merriest 5k of the year on December 3rd – The Ugly Sweater Run.
Needless to say, we donned our craziest sweaters, had a blast, burned a few calories, and feel proud to have contributed to a cause that brings warmth to our community.
Who Does the Ugly Sweater Run Benefit?
The Ugly Sweater Run is partnered with One Warm Coat, an organization that provides a warm coat, free of charge, to anyone in need. Participants of the run are also encouraged to bring a warm coat for donation. In the past year, One Warm Coat held 3,544 coat drives, collected 586,117 coats, and had an impact of $16,680,269.
Ticor Title is happy to offer the House Hunter Scorecard, a simple tool designed to improve the home-buying experience.
House Hunting & Weighing the Options
Deciding on which home to purchase is a major commitment that involves evaluating location, size, price, amenities, and so many other factors. With so many characteristics to assess and compare, it helps to have a tool that can itemize factors, clarify expectations, and build confidence that the home-buyer’s ultimate home choice is the best fit for their desired lifestyle.
Track & Compare Home Preferences
After weeks of looking, it may be easy for a buyer to forget what exactly they liked about homes they’ve viewed. Over time, the details may fade or become vague. However, the House Hunter Scorecard helps to keep a record by organizing and comparing what the buyer likes best about their top two or three home choices.
The House Hunter Scorecard not only includes most of the features needed in a home, it takes into account the importance of the surrounding community and helps the buyer to visualize the lifestyle they seek.
Prioritize & Set Clear Expectations
With the House Hunter Scorecard you can set up a priority list ahead of time and a rank & order features from the most vital to insignificant. This helps to bring focus to the decision making process. Since most home purchases involve compromises on preference, the scorecard helps to weigh the options and make home comparisons easier.
The priority list can also help a Real Estate Professional get a better picture of what the buyer is looking for in a house so they can more accurately suggest houses available that best meet the requirements.
When visiting different homes, buyers can leverage this check list to make notes, see the big picture, and build confidence that their ultimate choice is the best fit for their needs and vision.
