100 money orders totaling $50,000? How we handle cash payments in excess of $10,000…

Cash earnest money deposits in excess of $10,000

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) recently published their findings of a study they conducted assessing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARS) and Suspicious Form 8300 Filings Related to Real Estate Title and Escrow Businesses 2003–2011. The study confirmed the importance of Title and Escrow Companies filing of IRS Form 8300 – Report of Cash Payments Over […]

Refi drama and the importance of document execution guidelines

Refinance Drama and the importance of document execution guidelines

It is amazing how a divorce can affect a closing. Many people believe their domestic problems become the settlement agent’s problem and often look to the settlement agent to be the tie–breaker for them. It is important for a settlement agent to take a step back, stay out of the drama and never lose sight […]

Real Estate Investor Tries to Defraud the IRS

IRS Liens & Over-Encumbered Property Foreclosures are just one of many challenges facing our country in this economic crisis. People are not only failing to pay their mortgages, but they have also fallen short on many other obligations. Paying taxes is one of them. It has become common for an IRS lien to appear on […]

FIRPTA Frequently Asked Questions

What is F.I.R.P.T.A.?F.I.R.P.T.A. is an acronym for Foreign Investment Real Property Tax Act.  It was established in 1980 for the purpose of withholding the estimated amount of taxes which may be due on the gain of the disposition of a U.S. Real Property Interest from foreign persons.  A U.S. real property interest includes sales of […]