How to Choose the Right Title Company for You

For most people, buying or selling a home is one of the largest financial investments they will make; therefore you need to choose a title company who will handle this transaction efficiently and accurately.

Before choosing a title company you must first have an understanding as to what exactly a title company will do for you.

The title company will search the real estate records in the county where the particular property is located to determine the legal owner of the property, reveal any mortgages, liens, judgments or unpaid taxes which will need to be satisfied before the property is conveyed and detail any existing restrictions, easements or leases that may affect the property

When choosing a real estate title company there are certain things you should look for: for instance you want a company that understands and is familiar with the area you are buying in and knows about the local, state and federal laws. Local and State regulations can vary from state to state or jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You also want a company that will treat you well, be accessible and able to answer your questions as well as walk you through the closing process. A responsible company that will perform the title search as expected

Some real estate title companies may offer additional services such as notary and closing services in addition to the title search, not every title company does. This will save you the time of running around trying to find a notary public and title insurance, than having to coordinate all of these companies having a representative at your closing. This way all of your information is in one place, making the likelihood of your closing happening on time without any issues.

It is the clients right to choose their own title company, but asking your Realtor® for assistance in choosing a title company can lead to a much smoother closing. Title companies work for Realtor ® business and want to make Realtor’s happy so that they will repeatedly use their service. You want to make sure that you chose a company that you trust because they are responsible for a very important part of the home buying process.

Choosing the right real estate title company can make the difference between a stress free and on time closing and a delayed or problematic closing.

Homes Sales Up...Prices continue to climb

August 2012 NHAR Data

Homes Sales Up...Prices continue to climb

New Hampshire Association of Realtors® (NHAR) released data this week confirming that sales of existing homes and prices continue to climb, signs that the housing market is beginning to slowly recover.

Data released Wednesday showed that residential sales in July 2012 were 20% higher compared to homes sold in July 2011. 7,044 homes sold through the first seven months of 2012 were higher than the 5,851 homes sold through the first seven months of 2011.

The median price of home sold in New Hampshire in July 2012 was $215,000 compared to $216,000 in July 2011, just a half of a percent lower. Data confirms stabilizing median prices also.

The last five years have definitely been a buyer’s market; however the market is restricted by tight lending standards and shrinking inventory. Strict lending standards could get stricter in the coming days, as government backed mortgage such as Fannie Mae has informed lenders that it will tighten qualifications for new buyers or those refinancing their homes which could include higher mandatory credit scores for some loans. Such changes could make it more difficult for buyers to qualify for a mortgage.

Evidence in the recent months has pointed to better days ahead for the long suffering housing market. Optimism has appeared in a wide range of data showing increasing sales, homes selling faster, residential construction are up and prices stabilizing.

If the market continues on this tract for the rest of the year into 2013, these numbers should continue to change for the better.