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Imagine putting your hard-earned money toward the perfect property—only to find out later the seller wasn’t who they said they were.

It’s happening more often in Ohio and across the nation. If you’re buying or selling real estate, you need to know the warning signs of the fake seller scam.

In Expert Title’s latest blog, you’ll learn:

• What seller impersonation fraud is and how it’s done 
• The six red flags that should make you pause
• What you can do today to protect yourself and your investment.

We know the market isn’t making things easy right now. Buyers are hesitant, rates are still high and some deals feel tougher to close.

But you don’t have to let these challenges slow you (or your clients) down.

People are still buying homes, and with the right strategies, they can do it without overpaying or feeling stuck. In our latest blog, we break down smart moves that buyers can make, including:

• How to know you’re financially ready
• Negotiating seller concessions to cut down upfront costs
• Exploring loan options that make homeownership more affordable
• Keeping in mind that refinancing is always an option later on

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably got more than a few questions. How long does it take? What am I responsible for? When will I get the money?

Because there’s a lot that goes into a home sale, we’ve rounded up the answers to some of the most common questions sellers ask, to prepare you for what to expect.

Power point presentation from The Division of Financial Institutions and Real Estate & Professional Licensing for the State of Ohio discussing licensing, complaints and violations pertaining to both realtors and loan officers.

Click here to view the power point

When TRID requirements go into effect, lenders will begin issuing a new Closing Disclosure to homebuyers. This new form will list the Owner’s Policy of title insurance as an “optional” purchase. While owner’s title insurance has never been required, this “optional” language could spur questions regarding the value of title insurance. Below are some of the more common “objections” to the purchase of an Owner’s Policy.

Learn more about the Loan Estimate, Closing Disclosure and Settlement Statement. This book includes details such as tolerance/variance levels, forms changes based on loan options, and explanations for common questions about the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures.

WHAT

Changes to the Loan and Settlement Disclosure forms and processes are coming.

WHEN

The changes will be effective for transactions where a loan application is taken by a lender on or after August 1, 2015. WHY

Because the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 mandates the combination of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) loan disclosures with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1 Settlement Statement disclosures.

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