Category: Uncategorized

Why You Need Title Insurance

Buying a property is an expensive business. In most cases it means the investment of one’s entire savings with an additional loan in the future. Buying insurance from a Parkland title insurance company, especially if you are not very clear about why you should buy it in the first place is crucial.

What is title insurance?

A title is equivalent to your ownership of the property. Any fault in the title can jeopardize your ownership and with it, your entire investment. Title insurance protects you against any losses that arise from a fault in the title of the property. Unlike most other insurances that protect you against an accident in the future, title insurance protects you against something which has already happened.

If it has already happened, why should you bother about insurance? Here’s why:

Title search: You can do a title search by checking with the recorder of deeds on your own but this is far from enough. Mistakes can and do happen. There are a number of cases where a deed was not recorded or there was a fault in the record. There could also be outstanding debts or liens against this property. Most of us simply do not have the resources to do a thorough title search. A title insurance company, on the other hand, does have these resources and will always carry out a comprehensive title search before issuing the insurance.

Recover your losses: What happens if a fault in the title appears despite due diligence? Your focus must then shift to ensure that your losses are minimized. A title insurance becomes critical in this case.

Lender’s condition: Any threat to your ownership also risks a lender’s investment in the property. Many lenders make insurance from a reliable Parkland title insurance company part of their lending conditions.

4 Factors to Consider Before Hiring a Real Estate Lawyer

Whether you are buying or selling a house, hiring a real estate lawyer Coral Springs is highly recommended. Legal advice is particularly handy when dealing with a thorny transaction, such as disposing off a marital property as part of a divorce settlement or dealing with a disputed property. But before you hire a lawyer, here are a few factors you must consider:

Experience: This is one of the most critical factors while hiring a lawyer. An experienced lawyer knows the nuances of legal transactions, the problems that can crop up and how these can be resolved. Experience is even more important when dealing with complicated property deals. An experienced lawyer will have the confidence and the ability to handle tricky negotiations or cases. However, a relatively less experienced lawyer may cost you less should be considered when it is a fairly straightforward deal.

Specialization: Always make sure that your lawyer has the right specialization. This will depend on your own requirements. If you are dealing with commercial property, make sure your lawyer specializes in commercial transactions. Ask the lawyer if they have dealt with similar cases.

Services: Check what services the real estate lawyer Coral Springs is offering. Does it include closing and escrow services? Some firms also offer related services like title search and title insurance. All these additional services can be very useful and help you get a complete package at one place.

Cost: This could be the critical factor. Before you start comparing the fee from different firms, do find out everything that is included in the fee. Does it include closing services? Will you be paying by hour or as required? Can you get a deal if you opt for additional services? If you are dealing with a complicated transaction, such as a disputed property, you may have to pay more. Do keep in mind that a good real estate lawyer Coral Springs is worth every penny!

Property Closing — A Checklist for Buyers

The closing is the final and most anticipated step in a real estate transaction. It is important that the proper process is maintained and to that end, you can hire closing services Coral Springs to ensure that all requirements are met, and the closing goes smoothly. This will include:

Before the closing:

Once the contract is signed you can carry out different inspections to verify the state of the property. Closing services in Coral Springs will take care of the complete process. This will include the property inspection, termite inspection, and other checks you may want to carry out.

The signed contract is sent to the loan provider for approval. After the inspections are carried out, your closing agent will give both you and the seller a list of recommended repairs. At this point further negotiations may take place and financing is secured from the lender. Following this, your closing agent will:

  • Contact lender and seller to ensure the closing date is on schedule.
  • Set up a homeowner’s policy to be effective at the date of closing.
  • Arrange for utilities to be transferred into your name.
  • Order a title search to reveal any previous debts, liens or claims against the property.
  • Arrange for title insurance to protect you against losses arising out of any threats to the title.
  • Get a HUD 1 Settlement Agreement. Check all paperwork and make sure all closing documents are in order.
  • Verify that all necessary repairs have been made.
  • Make arranges for the final physical inspection, usually referred to as a “walk through, just before the closing.
  • On the day of closing, the agent from closing services Coral Springs will ensure that you have all relevant documents and will accompany you to make sure that the final hand over goes smoothly.

Be wary of wire fraud when buying a home

While homeownership rates have been rising in many markets and among many segments of Americans, so has a sophisticated type of wire fraud that takes direct aim at consumers.

By now, many of us are familiar with how real estate wire fraud operates and the “how” behind the scam is a familiar one. After years of planning and dreaming for their family’s future, many Americans are ready to take the step of purchasing a home. Sophisticated cybercriminals insert themselves into the process, sending emails pretending to be a legitimate real estate or title industry professional, instructing the target to wire money to scammers instead of the correct bank.

Click to read the rest of the article.

Why You Need a Real Estate Lawyer for a Commercial Sale

If you are looking to sell a commercial property, it is always best to go through an agency that also offers the services of a real estate lawyer Coral Springs. A real estate lawyer has many skills that can be useful in such cases:

Looking out for your interests: When it comes to hefty real estate investments, remember everyone is looking out for their own interests. The developer and the buyers will often come out with a list of reasons to knock down the price — from zoning laws, environmental costs to property condition and liabilities. An experienced lawyer has the tenacity and skill to handle negotiations while ensuring that your interests are always protected.

Handling big deals: Big commercial real estate projects must be handled carefully due to the sheer amount of money and legalities involved. Any mistake can threaten your investment and jeopardize the entire enterprise. A real estate lawyers Coral Springs can handle deals for you. They have the skills in negotiation to see that you get the best deal possible and they can handle the massive volume of paperwork, checking it in legal terms. This not only saves you time, money but offers you a level of protection in the future.

Ensuring zoning laws are observed: When it comes to commercial property, zoning laws are important. These laws determine the type of commercial work and the environmental laws that must be followed for a given piece of property. A real estate lawyer will research the zoning laws ensuring that any deal you sign protects your investment and interest.

Title search/insurance: Real estate lawyer Coral Springs also deals with title search and insurance. A title search is conducted to see if there are liabilities or claims against the property that can threaten ownership. Title insurance protects against any losses due to a title dispute.

What You Should Know About a Contract

Buying a house is a very important decision and entails a significant investment. Although it is not necessary, hiring a Coral Springs real estate lawyer is highly recommended. An attorney will ensure that real estate transactions always protect your interests. A lawyer will also help you understand the legalities surrounding any such transaction.

One of the essential aspects of the sale is the purchase contract. This contract will determine your ownership and the price you will pay. There are some crucial aspects that you must know, and a Coral Springs real estate lawyer can help you with it. At the very least, you must know the essentials of any contract. To be legally viable, a contract must have:

Written: A contract must be made in writing to be enforceable. Verbal contracts where an owner has sworn to sell your property will not be considered valid.

Price: The contract must clearly define the purchase price of the property and clear terms on how those are to be carried out.

Address: The property should be clearly identified. A legal definition of the property should be included and often contains more than just the property address to ensure there is no ambiguity surrounding the location of the property.

Names: The contract must clearly name the parties involved. If there are multiple sellers or buyers, each party’s name must be clearly mentioned.

Particulars: The contract should list everything included in the property sale. For instance, residential properties often include window treatments, heating or cooling systems, stove, or gas range. Commercial properties may include inventory and equipment.

Time: The contract sets a time frame and will include a closing date, and time that the transfer of ownership will take place.

Finally, a contract must be signed by both parties. Furthermore, each party must be of sound mind and legal age. Sometimes, particularly in commercial transactions, the contract can be signed by a legal representative. It is essential that you get the contract reviewed by a Coral Springs real estate lawyer before signing.

Factors to Remember Before Commercial Closing

The closing of any property negotiation is often the most important part of the process. This is when all details are documented and the contract finalized. There are some factors that you must keep in mind before a Boca Raton commercial closing:

Setting the date

The closing date is agreed upon during the signing of a purchase and sale agreement. It is usually set at a certain future date to allow both parties time to prepare for the final sale. When agreeing on a closing date, it is always better to avoid dates that are just before or after an important holiday. The closing date should also be set well before an important deadline, such as a tax filing, to ensure that last minute delays don’t interfere.

Be available

Make sure you are available on the date of your Boca Raton commercial closing as well as the day before and after. Your lawyer and real estate agent will be finalizing the paperwork and you may be required to supply last-minute documents, paperwork validation, or other important information.  Matters can also crop up that may push back the closing date by a day.

5 Reasons to Hire an Attorney when Buying Commercial Property

Buying a commercial property usually involves a substantial investment in time and money. So, it’s important to see that your investment is protected by hiring Coral Springs real estate attorney.

Save time and effort: Buying any property can be a time-consuming process that requires a lot of effort. Apart from searching for the right property, there are inspections, negotiations and other matters to be settled. It can be particularly hard for someone who already has a business to run. Hiring a lawyer is a bit like outsourcing all those tedious details to an expert.

A network of professionals: A Coral Springs real estate attorney will have a wide local network of reputable professionals including inspectors, that are necessary when securing financing for real estate purchases. Without a lawyer, you will have to find these people yourself.

Handle negotiations: Property transactions involve a lot of research as well as negotiations. Unfortunately, driving a good bargain is not everyone’s cup of tea. You must also have some knowledge of property sale trends and price ranges in Coral Springs. An experienced lawyer will have a good understanding of price changes and property appreciation.  This is critical in negotiations.

Comply with zoning laws: When it comes to commercial properties, zoning laws are very important. They dictate how a property can be used and developed. Some properties are meant to be residential, while some are for commercial use. If you do not comply with these zoning laws, you may end up with a property that is of no use to you. A Coral Springs real estate attorney will ensure that you are always in compliance with zoning laws.

What to do Before Buying a Commercial Property

If you are buying commercial property,there are many rules that govern these types of transactions. Hiring a real estate lawyer Coral Springs is highly recommended. Here are some of the things an attorney can help you with:

Appraisals: The property should be fully inspected before any investments are made, no matter how amazing it may look on the outside. An appraisal will give you an idea of the work the property may require in the future.

Checking the neighborhood: You cannot choose your neighbors, but you can choose the neighborhood! What is the average income of your neighbors? Is it close to residential areas? Is there a competing business nearby? What is the crime rate? What is the general reputation of the area? Try to get answers to these questions so that you can make a well-informed decision.

Rent potential: If you already have tenants or are planning on getting new ones, the rent potential of the property becomes important. What kind of tenants can you expect? What is the average rent in the neighborhood? What kind of escalation of rent can you reasonably expect over time? This is vital to choosing the right commercial property.

Zoning laws: The use of commercial properties is dictated by zoning laws and this will significantly affect your own investment. Get your real estate lawyer Coral Springs to advise you on this matter.

5 Ways a Real Estate Lawyer Can Help Secure Your Transaction

Research shows thatover 70% of people whoare involved in real estate transactions are not aware of all the risks associated with buying or selling property. Whether you are the buyer or the seller, you should find a good real estate lawyer in Boca Raton that can help you throughout the process.