Friday, January 4, 2008
Title to a property is a record detailing the owners of the property and rights associated with the ownership. Title typically shows a progression of ownership from the first owner to the current one. Title is a fairly simple concept, but when it goes wrong it is a nightmare. That is where title insurance comes in.
Title Insurance
Title insurance guarantees that the title on a property is marketable when you purchase the home, condo, land, etc. You should always pay for title insurance. It typically costs a few hundred dollars and will save you a bundle if problems arise.
When you buy title insurance, a title insurance company researches the title for the property. The insurance company will look to see if the title is clear. "Clear" simply means that the seller is truly transferring title to you and no other person can claim ownership. While this sounds fairly simple, rest assured that title problems arise all of the time.
Title Problems
You might be wondering how you could possibly have title problems. Here are a few examples:
1. Divorcing Couples – Divorce is unpleasant and sometime very ugly. In particularly nasty situations, one spouse may attempt to sell a home without telling the other. To gain clear title, you need both spouses to sign off on the sale. If you don't, you are going to become a party of the divorce proceedings. Now, wouldn't that be fun?
2. Estate Sales – If you are purchasing a house as part of an estate sale, there can be real problems. The heirs may not be getting along and in an effort to "get what's mine", may try to sell the residence without including all the heirs in the transaction. If you buy this home, you could end up involved in a lawsuit filed by an heir left out of the transaction.
3. Ingress and Egress Issues – Title to a property can have technical issues related to egress and ingress. Occasionally, one finds title to a property that is so messed up that the owner doesn't have the right to enter or leave the land because to do so would require crossing another person's property. In short, the property is landlocked and something must be worked out with the neighbors. Typically, a solution comes in the form of hard, cold cash…lots of it.
These are just a few issues that can arise with title. With real estate, unique issues can arise all the time.
If you buy title insurance, you don't have to worry about problems with title. If a problem arises, you calmly pick up the phone and call the title insurance company. The insurance company will come up with a solution, even if it means paying you for bad title.
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - sell your home online. Sellers list your home for free the first month.
Effective Real Estate Marketing Strategies
Copyright © 2005, Lanard Perry
Congratulations! It's official. You're finally a
licensed real estate agent. So, what do you do now?
Newly licensed real estate agents all over the country
face the same dilemma; life after real estate agent
licensing exams.
Truth is there are more real estate agents than you can
shake a stick at, but only a few fully embrace the
opportunity to distinguish themselves from the others.
Simply being licensed is no longer enough and there are
no guaranteed shortcuts to success. Still, there are
scores of companies guaranteeing success if you buy
their products.
Well, save your money because there are no guarantees;
only hard, focused work coupled with products that'll
enhance your success, which begins and ends with 2
simple things;
1. getting prospects, and
2. converting them to paying customers
Getting Prospects
Getting prospects is easier said than done and only when
you have some you will you have an opportunity to blend
your knowledge, charm and personality to close them.
But the key remains getting them. How do you do that?
Having a real estate listing system is one good way and
should be every newly licensed real estate agent's top
priority; veteran agents, too if they never had one.
Although you can find real estate listing systems a
dime a dozen there is nothing that helps you achieve
the level of real estate marketing and sales "success"
you want quite like a proven one, whether they're
complicated ones at outrageous prices, or simple ones
at reasonable cost.
Generally, the more complicated and cumbersome the
systems are the more expensive they are. They aren't
necessarily better because, just costlier.
Find out more about a good, inexpensive one at
http://www.farmingexpiredlistings.com
The type of system you chose can be as simple as
mailing pre- written real estate marketing letters to
owners of expired listings, some of which are extremely
effective.
Prices range from under $9 - 10 to over $4,000.00;
several can be found for less than $50.00.
But as you grow in experience and ability incorporating
call in 800 number lead generating systems and websites
are almost a must if you want be competitive and ensure
your success.
Let's face it - real estate agents need listings and
the more they have the more money they're likely to
make through their real estate marketing efforts. On
the other hand agents who can't get listings don't last
in the profession too long.
Real estate listing systems help agents get listings.
They can help new agents get off to good starts and
recharge the careers of veteran agents who have been
around for awhile.
Also, with a good system, expired listings, fsbo's and
whatever it might be, newly licensed real estate agents
can gain significant marketing exposure in months,
rather than years.
Signs with your name on them dotted throughout your
community will give you instant credibility and
generate more listings. Everybody likes doing business
with successful real estate agents, which you'll be
thought of as when you have lots of listings.
Another nice thing about farming expired listings is
that the sellers are typically Realtor friendly, eager
to sell their properties and willing do what it takes
to get them sold.
So, if you don' have one, get one. And don't worry if
you can't afford the most expensive one. Just get the
one the seems best suited to you that you can afford
now. You can always upgrade and add to it as time goes
by.
Good luck and happy listings!
Lanard Perry is the author of Farming Expired Listings
- Your Personal Guide To Success; an Ebook Real Estate
Listing System that shows Realtors how to average 1 or
more listings a week. Get a FREE Sample
Chapter at http://www.farmingexpiredlistings.com
An Introduction to Bahamas Vacations
A Bahamas vacation is something that most travelers will never forget. The 700 islands of the Bahamas make up a 100,000-square-mile archipelago, extending over 500 miles. Including uninhabited cays and large rocks, it has a total estimated land area of 5,382 miles. The two main islands are New Providence Island and Grand Bahama Island, although the smaller islands of Abacos, Acklins, Andros, The Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera, The Exumas, Inagua, Mayaguana, and San Salvador also offer prime vacation spots.
Grand Bahama Island vacations are perhaps the most popular. As the fourth largest island in the Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island extends for 96 miles against emerald green water. The island's many cities, towns, and villages provide a unique combination of a cosmopolitan locales, historical fishing villages, and undiscovered ecological treasures. The island also has one of the world's largest underwater cave systems, three national parks, endless beaches, and enchanting marine life.
Nassau, as the capital city of the Bahamas on New Providence Island, is also a popular vacation destination.. Along with its neighbor Paradise Island, these two pieces of land mix glamour with tropical ease. Nassau is prized for its sheltered harbor, and the city has managed to preserve its beautiful colonial mansions, cathedrals, 18-th century fortresses, and a Queen's staircase whose 66 steps lead to a view that simply is not to be missed.
Many dream their whole lives of a Bahamas vacation, and with the scenery, culture, and history to be found on Grand Bahama Island and in Nassau, it is easy to see why.
Bahamas Vacations Info provides detailed information on Bahamas vacation packages, rentals, family vacations, resorts, villas, ranging from cheap vacations to upscale retreats. Bahamas Vacations Info is the sister site of Lake Havasu Web.